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hematology and clinical biochemistry profiles in antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus) from different types of captivities and free living in northeast brazil.the antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus) can be found along the brazilian northern and northeastern coasts. previous studies on the clinical biochemistry of these animals were conducted in north america and the caribbean, whereas little is known regarding these parameters in south american manatee populations. accordingly, the objective of the present study was to examine the hematology and clinical biochemistry of t. manatus manatus of different sexes and environments in northeast bra ...202033098317
case report on helminth parasites of a necropsied antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus) in belize.sirenians are parasitized by a number of nematodes and trematodes, most which appear to be host specific. reports of parasitism in the west indian manatee, trichechus manatus, exist for several regions within the atlantic ocean, the gulf of mexico, and the caribbean sea, but there is a lack of parasitic data existing for the manatee subspecies living in the coastal waters of belize. herein, we report the first published record of parasites found in a deceased adult male antillean manatee, triche ...202032862905
learning capacities and welfare in an antillean manatee, trichechus manatus manatus.studies on the cognitive abilities of manatees are limited despite their importance for the environmental enrichment and welfare of individuals in captivity and the understanding of manatee behaviour in the wild. our study analyses how the presence of new stimuli and their association with food may have changed the behaviour of an antillean manatee called daniel. first, daniel was observed in the absence of stimuli and subsequently, in step two, presented with the presence of four different geom ...202032720490
angioarchitecture of collateral arteries of the aortic arch of antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus linnaeus, 1758).the aortic arrangement is an important structure associated with the maintenance of homeostasis. based on this information, this study was conducted to describe the collateral arteries of the aortic arch of antillean manatee and define the standard model for the species. three specimens, an adult male, adult female and a male neonate, all strandings on the coast of the state of rio grande do norte, brazil, were used. the study was performed in the laboratory of morphophysiology of vertebrates of ...202031441103
investigating the gene expression profiles of rehabilitated florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) following red tide exposure.to investigate a florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) mortality event following a red tide bloom in southwest florida, an rna sequencing experiment was conducted. gene expression changes in white blood cells were assessed in manatees rescued from a red tide affected area (n = 4) and a control group (n = 7) using rna sequencing. the genes with the largest fold changes were compared between the two groups to identify molecular pathways related to cellular and disease processes. in tota ...202032614830
classification of florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) vocalizations.the vocal repertoire for the florida manatee is quantitatively categorized from a sample of 1114 calls recorded from 3 different manatee habitats in florida. first, manatee vocalizations were categorized into five call categories based on visual inspection of spectrograms and following descriptions provided in previous studies. second, based on measurements of 17 acoustic parameters, the subjective classification scheme was validated using classification and regression trees (carts) and model-ba ...202032237867
florida manatees trichechus manatus latirostris actively consume the sponge chondrilla caribensis.the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris linnaeus 1758) actively selects and consumes the "chicken-liver" sponge chondrilla caribensis. manatees ate over 10% of c. caribensis on a sample dock, mostly from pylons that received no direct sunlight. since manatees reportedly eat mostly seagrasses and algae, it was thought that the chlorophyll-a content of the symbiotic cyanobacteria in c. caribensis might be correlated to the amount eaten; however the correlation was not significant (p >  ...202032002336
trends of the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) rehabilitation admissions 1991-2017.a retrospective study of admission data of 401 west indian manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) presented to the david a. straz jr. manatee critical care center at zootampa at lowry park (zootampa) for rehabilitation from august 1991 through october 2017. causes of admittance, location of rescue, gender, and age class were all recorded for each manatee admitted. admittance categories as defined by the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission (fwc) included watercraft collisions, na ...202032645022
for better, for worse: manatee-associated tursiocola (bacillariophyta) remain faithful to their host.with the advent of more comprehensive research into the microbiome and interactions between animals and their microbiota, new solutions can be applied to address conservation challenges such as husbandry and medical care of captive animals. although studies on epizoic algae are relatively rare, and the function and role of those mainly photosynthetic organisms in the animal microbiome is not well understood, recent surveys on epizoic diatoms show that some of them exhibit traits of obligate epib ...202032198928
developmental changes in bone mechanics from florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris), obligate swimming mammals.mammals living in aquatic environments load their axial skeletons differently from their terrestrial counterparts. the structure and mechanical behavior of trabecular bone can be especially indicative of varying habitual forces. here, we investigated vertebral trabecular bone mechanical properties (yield strength, stiffness and toughness) throughout development in florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris), obligate undulatory swimmers. thoracic, lumbar and caudal vertebrae were dissected ...202032098877
esophageal measurement of core body temperature in the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).cold-stress syndrome (css) is one of the leading natural threats to free-ranging florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris). cold water exposure below the species' acceptable physiologic range is a frequent occurrence for manatees during cold weather months causing css-induced systemic illness and significant annual mortality. although css is a commonly presented condition at manatee rehabilitation facilities, the core body temperatures in css manatees are currently unknown due to the lac ...202031295080
complete mitochondrial genome of the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirotris, sirenia).the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) is an endangered subspecies of the west indian manatee (t. manatus), which inhabits inland and marine waters of southeastern united states. in this study, we assembled the mitochondrial genome (mtdna) of the florida manatee from whole genome shotgun reads. as a result, we show that the currently annotated t. manatus mtdna belongs to a different species, the amazonian manatee (t. inunguis). the newly assembled florida manatee mtdna is 16,881 bp ...202032142097
interactions between the imperiled west indian manatee, trichechus manatus, and mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) in everglades national park, florida, usa.arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), including those vectored by mosquitoes, have recently been cited as potential emerging health threats to marine mammals. despite the fully aquatic habits of cetaceans, immunologic exposure to arboviruses including west nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus has been detected in wild atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and captive orcas have been killed by west nile virus and st. louis encephalitis virus. currently, there is no evidence of direct interac ...202032737372
xanthine nephrolithiasis in juvenile captive giant otters (pteronura brasiliensis).nephrolithiasis has been reported in several aquatic mammals including bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus), small clawed otters (amblonyx cinereus), european river otters (lutra lutra), north american river otters (lontra canadensis), northern elephant seals (mirounga angustirostris), florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris), and california sea lions (zalophus californianus). compositions of calculi in previous cases were predominantly calcium oxalate or ammonium acid urate. xanthi ...202031926528
emergence of a chimeric globin pseudogene and increased hemoglobin oxygen affinity underlie the evolution of aquatic specializations in sirenia.as limits on o2 availability during submergence impose severe constraints on aerobic respiration, the oxygen binding globin proteins of marine mammals are expected to have evolved under strong evolutionary pressures during their land-to-sea transition. here, we address this question for the order sirenia by retrieving, annotating, and performing detailed selection analyses on the globin repertoire of the extinct steller's sea cow (hydrodamalis gigas), dugong (dugong dugon), and florida manatee ( ...201930828717
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) in plasma of the west indian manatee (trichechus manatus).per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) are ubiquitous, synthetic anthropogenic chemicals known to infiltrate and persist in biological systems as a result of their stability and bioaccumulation potential. this study investigated 15 pfas, including short-chain carboxylic and sulfonic acids, and their presence in a threatened herbivore, the west indian manatee (trichechus manatus). seven of the 15 pfas examined were detected in manatee plasma. perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (pfos) (ranging from ...201930803684
a hybrid swarm of manatees along the guianas coastline, a peculiar environment under the influence of the amazon river plume.the west indian (trichechus manatus) and amazonian (t. inunguis) manatees have a sympatric occurrence at the mouth of the amazon river. a result of this interspecific encounter is the occurrence of hybrids, which are frequently found along the coasts of amapá state in brazil, french guiana and guyana. here we present new genetic evidence indicating the occurrence of a hybrid swarm along the guianas shield coastline, which is an interspecific hybrid zone that also separates t. manatus populations ...201931460594
melanothamnus maniticola sp. nov. (ceramiales, rhodophyta): an epizoic species evolved for living on the west indian manatee.over 35 macroalgae have been documented growing epizoically on sea turtles, and macroalgae are also known to grow on the west indian manatee, but the number and identity of these latter species have not been determined. analysis of dna sequences of 12 samples collected from different manatees captured in three areas of florida indicated that they represented a single undescribed species within the rhodomelaceae genus melanothamnus. morphological analysis revealed melanothamnus characteristics bu ...201931400144
coastal habitat change and marine megafauna behavior: florida manatees encountering reduced food provisions in a prominent winter refuge.a decline in submerged aquatic vegetation (sav) within florida's spring-fed, thermal refuges raises questions about how these systems support winter foraging of florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris). we analyzed telemetry data for 12 manatees over seven years to assess their use of kings bay, a winter refuge with diminished sav. after accounting for the effect of water temperature, we hypothesized that the number of trips out of kings bay would increase and the time wintering manatee ...201931105796
clinicopathological prognostic indicators of survival and pathological findings in cold-stressed florida manatees trichechus manatus latirostris.cold-stress syndrome (css) is a leading natural cause of mortality in free-ranging florida manatees trichechus manatus latirostris, but comprehensive investigations into blood analyte derangements and prognostic indicators in css are lacking. the objectives of this study were to (1) compare admission blood analyte data of manatees pre and post rehabilitation for css to identify clinicopathological derangements, (2) identify blood analyte prognostic indicators for survival, and (3) correlate post ...201930628575
as, cr, hg, pb, and cd concentrations and bioaccumulation in the dugong dugong dugon and manatee trichechus manatus: a review of body burdens and distribution.the death of dozens of manatees trichechus manatus recently in tabasco, mexico, has captured international attention. speculation about possible causes include water and food contamination by metals. although federal authorities have ruled out water chemical pollution, the cause of these deaths is still awaiting conclusive laboratory results. present work seeks to summarize information currently available on non-essential metals and those of great toxicological relevance in sirenia (dugongs and ...201930708981
accuracy, precision, and error in age estimation of florida manatees using growth layer groups in earbones.ages of florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) can be estimated by counting annual growth layer groups (glgs) in the periotic dome portion of the tympanoperiotic complex of their earbones. the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission manages an archive of more than 8,700 florida manatee earbones collected from salvaged carcasses from 1989 to 2017. our goal was to comprehensively evaluate techniques used to estimate age, given this large sample size and changes to processing p ...201931379391
cerebral and cardiac congenital malformations in neonatal west indian manatees (trichechus manatus).strandings of live new-born west indian manatees (wims; trichechus manatus) are one of the main challenges for the conservation of this species in brazil, particularly in the northeastern states. congenital malformations (cms) are rare in sirenians. we identified cms in two of 19 stranded wims that were rescued, rehabilitated and subjected to complete pathological examinations in ceará and rio grande do norte states between 1992 and 2017. in case 1, dilation of the cerebral lateral and fourth ve ...201930691603
molecular and clinical evidence of aeromonas hydrophila and fusarium solani co-infection in narrow-clawed crayfish astacus leptodactylus.co-infections occur when a host is infected by 2 or more different pathogen types, either by secondary or simultaneous infections, and are very frequent in nature. in this study, 10 narrow-clawed crayfish astacus leptodactylus with signs of disease were collected from haft baram lake (fars province, southern iran). samples of fluid from inside the intact abscess and melanized lesions in the cuticle were cultured aseptically onto brain heart infusion agar and sabouraud dextrose agar for bacterial ...201930628579
serum iron analytes in healthy and diseased florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).serum iron concentration is usually decreased in true iron deficiency and with inflammatory disease in man and domestic animals. serum total iron binding capacity (tibc) may be increased in true iron deficiency and decreased with inflammatory disease. this prospective study was designed to measure serum iron analytes in healthy free-ranging and housed florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) of both sexes and various ages and to evaluate the effects of diseases common to manatees on the ...201931812174
fecal microbiota of captive antillean manatee trichechus manatus manatus.herbivorous animals have unique intestinal microbiota that greatly helps with plant digestion in the host; however, knowledge on the microbiota of marine herbivores is limited. to better understand the taxonomy of intestinal microbiota in manatees, and the possible effects of captive conditions on that, we characterized the fecal microbiota of captive antillean manatee trichechus manatus manatus and compared the bacterial community with that of wild florida manatees trichechus manatus latirostri ...201931210263
parasite fauna of wild antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus) of the andean region, colombia.antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus) are large herbivorous aquatic mammals living in limited areas of south, central and north america. as with other aquatic mammals, antillean manatees can be infected by a variety of protozoan and metazoan parasites, some of them with zoonotic potential, which affect not only their welfare but also population health status. therefore, we conducted the first epidemiological survey in colombian free-ranging antillean manatees to estimate their actual g ...201931029160
affinity of staphylococcal a and streptococcal g proteins to west indian manatee ( trichechus manatus manatus) immunoglobulins.the west indian manatee ( trichechus manatus manatus), a subspecies that inhabits coastal areas of central and south america, has been listed as a vulnerable species because of the rapid decline in its population. commercially available immunologic reagents specific for sirenians are lacking, limiting the development of sensitive immunodiagnostic assays. we observed the affinity of the microbial proteins a and g to t. m. manatus immunoglobulins. manatee serum pools were analyzed using enzyme-lin ...201930277833
occurrence of endoparasites in wild antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus) in colombia.the recognized impact of parasites in wildlife populations demands surveillance of endangered species like the antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus) in colombia. we conducted a parasitological survey in four rescued sea cows in order to document the parasite diversity of this sirenian in the caribbean wetland of colombia and contribute to the molecular characterization of its trematodes. the flukes chiorchis fabaceus, nudacotyle undicola and the protozoans eimeria manatus and e. nodulo ...201829988803
survey of brucella spp. and leptospira spp. antibodies in cetaceans and manatees of the amazon basin and atlantic ocean, brazil.aquatic mammals can act as sentinels of emerging and resurging pathogens in the environment. brucella spp. and leptospira spp. are 2 zoonotic pathogens relevant to aquatic mammals, and their detection can be used to assess pathogen exposure. in this study, serum from 84 individuals-63 cetaceans (families iniidae, n = 37; delphinidae, n = 22; and kogiidae, n = 4) and 21 west indian manatees trichechus manatus-was tested by the rose bengal test (rbt) and a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immu ...201830530926
lack of cross-reactivity of human and porcine reagents to quantify manatee (trichechus manatus) cytokines.veterinary medical examinations, including both physical examination and diagnostic tests, are important to monitor the health of both managed-care and wild marine mammals. however, limited species-specific reagents and assays are available that may contribute to a broader medical examination. this project evaluated if commercially available human and porcine antibodies and reagents would cross-react with manatee (trichechus manatus) cytokines as the first step to validate a new diagnostic tool ...201830243374
internal parasites of the two subspecies of the west indian manatee trichechus manatus.the west indian manatee trichechus manatus is divided into 2 subspecies: the antillean (t. m. manatus) and florida (t. m. latirostris) manatees. this study reports sample prevalence of manatee parasites from populations of these 2 subspecies in different geographical locations. although necropsy is a valuable diagnostic tool for parasite infections, the need for antemortem diagnostic techniques is important. fecal samples collected during necropsies of antillean manatees (n = 3) in puerto rico a ...201830198489
papillomatous skin netting of cetaceans (cetacea: delphinapterus leucas, balaena mysticetus, and eschrichtius robustus) and sirens (sirenia: trichechus manatus and dugong dugon).the structure of the papillomatous junction between epidermis and dermis (papillomatous netting, pn) in the skin of cetaceans (white whales, bowhead, and gray whales) and sirens (american manatee, dugong) was studied and compared using histophysiological and morphogeometric methods. the relative extent of pn development proved to be similar in members of both orders, but significant differences were found in pn configuration, the volume of "free area of grille", the degree of skin vertical compr ...201830171469
epizoic and apochlorotic tursiocola species (bacillariophyta) from the skin of florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).until now only one group of diatoms, the bacillariaceae, was known to contain heterotrophic representatives. we show that a second group, represented by species in the genus tursiocola, has undergone evolutionary loss of photosynthesis within the bacillariophyta. heterotrophy was evidenced by the presence of only apochlorotic cells in live and motile specimens. three species of tursiocola (t. bondei sp. nov., t. alata sp. nov., and t. gracilis sp. nov.), of which at least two are apochlorotic, a ...201830036779
the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) t cell receptor loci exhibit v subgroup synteny and chain-specific evolution.the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) has limited diversity in the immunoglobulin heavy chain. we therefore investigated the antigen receptor loci of the other arm of the adaptive immune system: the t cell receptor. manatees are the first species from afrotheria, a basal eutherian superorder, to have an in-depth characterization of all t cell receptor loci. by annotating the genome and expressed transcripts, we found that each chain has distinct features that correlates to their i ...201829649552
identification of g-quadruplex forming sequences in three manatee papillomaviruses.the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirotris) is a threatened aquatic mammal in united states coastal waters. over the past decade, the appearance of papillomavirus-induced lesions and viral papillomatosis in manatees has been a concern for those involved in the management and rehabilitation of this species. to date, three manatee papillomaviruses (tmpvs) have been identified in florida manatees, one forming cutaneous lesions (tmpv1) and two forming genital lesions (tmpv3 and tmpv4). we id ...201829630682
heat flux in manatees: an individual matter and a novel approach to assess and monitor the thermal state of florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) possess an unusual suite of adaptations to accommodate both a fully aquatic lifestyle and an herbivorous diet, including a low metabolic rate and a very limited thermoneutral zone. their relatively high lower critical temperature of around 20 °c suggests strong sensitivity to cold, thereby limiting their distribution to tropical and subtropical waters. "cold stress syndrome" affects and kills florida manatees every year during intense or prolonge ...201829556703
thromboelastography in wild florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).thromboelastography (teg) provides a comprehensive evaluation of blood clot formation. this test can be used to identify abnormalities in coagulation by assessing multiple aspects of the clotting cascade, including the speed of clot initiation and formation, clot strength, and ultimately fibrinolysis. thromboembolic disease has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of cold stress syndrome (css), an important cause of mortality in the threatened florida manatee (trichechus manat ...201829522245
retrospective survey for pathogens in stranded marine mammals in northeastern brazil: brucella spp. infection in a clymene dolphin ( stenella clymene).:  we surveyed 13 carcasses of marine mammals (12 trichechus manatus and one stenella clymene) that had stranded in northeastern brazil during 1990-2013 for infectious diseases by screening tissues from the collection of the brazilian national center of research and conservation of aquatic mammal, chico mendes institute for biodiversity conservation. brucella spp. and mycobacterium spp. were investigated by culturing and pcr of tissue samples, whereas sarcocystidae parasites, leptospira spp., an ...201828982019
development and validation of quantitative pcr assays to measure cytokine transcript levels in the florida manatee ( trichechus manatus latirostris).cytokines have important roles in the mammalian response to viral and bacterial infections, trauma, and wound healing. because of early cytokine production after physiologic stresses, the regulation of messenger rna (mrna) transcripts can be used to assess immunologic responses before changes in protein production. to detect and assess early immune changes in endangered florida manatees ( trichechus manatus latirostris), we developed and validated a panel of quantitative pcr assays to measure mr ...201829369729
detection of hydrodynamic stimuli by the postcranial body of florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).manatees live in shallow, frequently turbid waters. the sensory means by which they navigate in these conditions are unknown. poor visual acuity, lack of echolocation, and modest chemosensation suggest that other modalities play an important role. rich innervation of sensory hairs that cover the entire body and enlarged somatosensory areas of the brain suggest that tactile senses are good candidates. previous tests of detection of underwater vibratory stimuli indicated that they use passive move ...201728194485
the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) immunoglobulin heavy chain suggests the importance of clan iii variable segments in repertoire diversity.manatees are a vulnerable, charismatic sentinel species from the evolutionarily divergent afrotheria. manatee health and resistance to infectious disease is of great concern to conservation groups, but little is known about their immune system. to develop manatee-specific tools for monitoring health, we first must have a general knowledge of how the immunoglobulin heavy (igh) chain locus is organized and transcriptionally expressed. using the genomic scaffolds of the florida manatee (trichechus ...201728131767
florida red tides, manatee brevetoxicosis, and lung models.in 1996, 149 florida manatees,trichechus manatus latirostris,died along the southwest coast of florida. necropsy pathology results of these animals indicated that brevetoxin from the florida red tide,karenia brevis,caused their death. a red tide bloom had been previously documented in the area where these animals stranded. the necropsy data suggested the mortality occurred from chronic inhalation and/or ingestion. inhalation theories include high doses of brevetoxin deposited/stored in the manat ...201726448968
brevetoxicosis in manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) from the 1996 epizootic: gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical features.in 1996, at least 149 manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) died in an unprecedented epizootic along the southwest coast of florida. at about the same time, a bloom of the brevetoxin-producing dinoflagellates, gymnodinium breve, was present in the same area. grossly, severe nasopharyngeal, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, and cerebral congestion was present in all cases. nasopharyngeal and pulmonary edema and hemorrhage were also seen. consistent microscopic lesions consisted of catarrhal rhinitis ...20179547868
fatal systemic salmonellosis in a florida manatee ( trichechus manatus latirostris).a subadult male florida manatee ( trichechus manatus latirostris) stranded dead on florida's atlantic coast in january 2015. necropsy and histopathologic findings confirmed chronic systemic bacterial infection caused by salmonella enterica serotype iv 50:z4,z23,:- involving renal, respiratory, lymphatic, and skeletal systems. this was a unique case of systemic salmonellosis in a florida manatee.201728463629
evolution of the mc5r gene in placental mammals with evidence for its inactivation in multiple lineages that lack sebaceous glands.mc5r is one of five melanocortin receptor genes found in placental mammals. mc5r plays an important role in energy homeostasis and is also expressed in the terminal differentiation of sebaceous glands. among placental mammals there are multiple lineages that either lack or have degenerative sebaceous glands including cetacea (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses), sirenia (manatees and dugongs), proboscidea (elephants), rhinocerotidae (rhinos), and heterocephalus glab ...201729277542
investigating seagrass in toxoplasma gondii transmission in florida (trichechus manatus latirostris) and antillean (t. m. manatus) manatees.toxoplasma gondii is a feline protozoan reported to cause morbidity and mortality in manatees and other marine mammals. given the herbivorous nature of manatees, ingestion of oocysts from contaminated water or seagrass is presumed to be their primary mode of infection. the objectives of this study were to investigate oocyst contamination of seagrass beds in puerto rico and determine the seroprevalence of t. gondii in antillean (trichechus manatus manatus) and florida (t. m. latirostris) manatees ...201729256429
the presence of ovarian cysts in a captive antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus l. 1758).several pathological changes associated with reproductive systems of marine mammals have been reported in primary literature. however, no such records exist regarding ovarian cysts in the antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus l. 1758).201728810859
identifying coagulopathies in the pathophysiology of cold stress syndrome in the florida manatee trichechus manatus latirostris.cold stress syndrome (css) in the florida manatee trichechus manatus latirostris has been defined as morbidity and mortality resulting from prolonged exposure to water temperatures <20°c. the pathophysiology is described as multifactorial, involving nutritional, immunological and metabolic disturbances; however, the exact mechanisms are unknown. we hypothesized that thromboembolic complications contribute to the pathophysiology of css in addition to the previously described factors. during the w ...201728792416
development of a quantitative pcr assay for measurement of trichechid herpesvirus 1 load in the florida manatee ( trichechus manatus latirostris).trichechid herpesvirus 1 (trhv-1) is currently the only known herpesvirus in any sirenian. we hypothesized that stress may lead to recrudescence of trhv-1 in manatees, thus making trhv-1 a potential biomarker of stress. we optimized and validated a trhv-1 real-time quantitative probe hybridization pcr (qpcr) assay that was used to quantify trhv-1 in manatee peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pbmcs). average baseline trhv-1 loads in a clinically healthy wild florida manatee ( trichechus manatus ...201728467282
proposal and application of a novel disseminated intravascular coagulation scoring system in the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (dic) is an acquired disorder of hemostasis resulting in activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways. it is reported secondarily to multiple disease processes and can be associated with increased mortality. previous research at tampa's lowry park zoo (lpz) demonstrated that florida manatees ( trichechus manatus latirostris) with cold stress syndrome (css) demonstrated thromboembolic disease. the object of this retrospective study was to establi ...201728363081
treatment of pulmonicola cochleotrema infection with ivermectin-praziquantel combination in an antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus).the aim of this study was to report the use of an oral combination of ivermectin plus praziquantel in the treatment of a pulmonicola cochleotrema in an antillean manatee ( trichechus manatus manatus). a female manatee was found exhibiting respiratory changes and the presence of parasites in the nares. based on clinical manifestations presented by the manatee, a symptomatic therapeutic protocol was employed, which included an anthelmintic treatment using a combination of ivermectin plus praziquan ...201728363040
identification of bacteria in blood cultures from clinically ill captive antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus).between september 2001 and march 2013, 62 bacterial cultures (37 aerobic and 25 anaerobic) were performed on 37 blood samples from 23 antillean manatees ( trichechus manatus manatus) that were kept in captivity at the brazilian national center for research and conservation of aquatic mammals (cma) in pernambuco (cma-pe) and alagoas (cma-al), brazil. all of the animals sampled exhibited clinical signs at the time of sampling including abscesses (n = 8), debilitation and anorexia (n = 22), and pro ...201728363079
disseminated toxoplasmosis toxoplasma gondii in a wild florida manatee trichechus manatus latirostris and seroprevalence in two wild populations.marine mammals are important indicators for ecosystem health and serve as sentinel species for infectious agents including zoonoses. histological examination of tissues from a stranded florida manatee trichechus manatus latirostris revealed protozoal cysts in the cerebrum and intrahistiocytic tachyzoites in the liver and caudal mesenteric lymph node. disseminated toxoplasma gondii infection was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ...201627901507
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in captive antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus) in brazil.antillean manatees ( trichechus manatus manatus) are aquatic mammals that inhabit marine waters from central america to the northeastern region of brazil, and they are an endangered species. infection with toxoplasma gondii through intake of water or food contaminated with oocysts has been reported among marine mammals. the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to t. gondii in west indian manatees living in captivity in northeastern brazil. serum samples from 55 west india ...201627468012
evolution of cytoarchitectural landscapes in the mammalian isocortex: sirenians (trichechus manatus) in comparison with other mammals.the isocortex of several primates and rodents shows a systematic increase in the number of neurons per unit of cortical surface area from its rostrolateral to caudomedial border. the steepness of the gradient in neuronal number and density is positively correlated with cortical volume. the relative duration of neurogenesis along the same rostrocaudal gradient predicts a substantial fraction of this variation in neuron number and laminar position, which is produced principally from layers ii-iv n ...201626223206
from the worm in a bottle of mezcal: idna confirmation of a leech parasitizing the antillean manatee.invertebrate-derived ingested dna (idna) is quickly proving to be a valuable, non-invasive tool for monitoring vertebrate species of conservation concern. using the dna barcoding locus, we successfully identified both the blood-feeding leech haementeria acuecueyetzin and its blood meal-the latter is shown to be derived from the caribbean manatee, trichechus manatus . dna amplification was successful despite the fact that the specimen was fixed in mezcal (a beverage distilled from agave). we repo ...201627391275
normal hemostatic profiles and coagulation factors in healthy free-living florida manatees ( trichechus manatus latirostris).hemostatic disorders presumptively play an important role in the pathophysiology of several important disease conditions in the florida manatee ( trichechus manatus latirostris). prior to pursuing such clinical implications, it is essential to establish normal hemostatic profiles in clinically healthy animals. during annual health assessments of free-living manatees organized by the us geological survey, blood samples were collected from 12 healthy animals from the atlantic coast and 28 from the ...201627525595
influence of manatees' diving on their risk of collision with watercraft.watercraft pose a threat to endangered florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris). mortality from watercraft collisions has adversely impacted the manatee population's growth rate, therefore reducing this threat is an important management goal. to assess factors that contribute to the risk of watercraft strikes to manatees, we studied the diving behavior of nine manatees carrying gps tags and time-depth recorders in tampa bay, florida, during winters 2002-2006. we applied a bayesian formu ...201627049326
golgi analysis of neuron morphology in the presumptive somatosensory cortex and visual cortex of the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).the current study investigates neuron morphology in presumptive primary somatosensory (s1) and primary visual (v1) cortices of the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) as revealed by golgi impregnation. sirenians, including manatees, have an aquatic lifestyle, a large body size, and a relatively large lissencephalic brain. the present study examines neuron morphology in 3 cortical areas: in s1, dorsolateral cortex area 1 (dl1) and cluster cortex area 2 (cl2) and in v1, dorsolateral c ...201627166161
antifungal resistance and virulence among candida spp. from captive amazonian manatees and west indian manatees: potential impacts on animal and environmental health.this work aimed at evaluating the antifungal susceptibility and production of virulence factors by candida spp. isolated from sirenians in brazil. the isolates (n = 105) were recovered from the natural cavities of amazonian and west indian manatees and were tested for the susceptibility to amphotericin b, itraconazole, and fluconazole and for the production of phospholipases, proteases, and biofilm. the minimum inhibitory concentrations (mics) for amphotericin b ranged from 0.03 to 1 µg/ml, and ...201626813966
metals in bone tissue of antillean manatees from the gulf of mexico and chetumal bay, mexico.concentrations of seven metals (as, cd, cr, cu, pb, ni, and zn) were analyzed in 33 bone tissue samples of antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus) found dead in lagoons and rivers of tabasco and campeche in the gulf of mexico and chetumal bay in the caribbean region. the concentrations of cr, cu, pb, and zn were significantly different between regions, with greater levels found in the gulf of mexico group than in the mexican caribbean group (p < 0.05). pb concentrations differed signific ...201626519079
digestive efficiencies of ex situ and in situ west indian manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).digestive efficiencies (dm) of ex situ and in situ manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) were, for the first time, assessed using manganese (mn(2+)) as a naturally occurring marker. the dm of ex situ manatees determined using [mn(2+)] did not differ significantly from the dm assessed using lignin, supporting the efficacy of the manganese approach. gastrointestinal tract samples, obtained from recently dead animals, showed [mn(2+)] concentrations were lowest in the stomach and remained low in ...201524457923
sublethal red tide toxin exposure in free-ranging manatees (trichechus manatus) affects the immune system through reduced lymphocyte proliferation responses, inflammation, and oxidative stress.the health of many florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) is adversely affected by exposure to blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, karenia brevis. k. brevis blooms are common in manatee habitats of florida's southwestern coast and produce a group of cyclic polyether toxins collectively referred to as red tide toxins, or brevetoxins. although a large number of manatees exposed to significant levels of red tide toxins die, several manatees are rescued from sublethal exposure and are suc ...201525678466
eight-choice sound localization by manatees: performance abilities and head related transfer functions.two experiments investigated the ability and means by which two male florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) may determine the direction of a sound source. an eight-choice discrimination paradigm was used to determine the subjects' sound localization abilities of five signal conditions covering a range of frequencies, durations, and levels. subjects performed above the 12.5% chance level for all broadband frequencies and were able to localize sounds over a large level range. errors wer ...201525533765
molecular characterization of novel mucosotropic papillomaviruses from a florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).we isolated two new manatee papillomavirus (pv) types, tmpv3 and tmpv4, from a florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris). two pv types were previously isolated from this species. tmpv1 is widely dispersed amongst manatees and a close-to-root pv; not much is known about tmpv2. the genomes of tmpv3 and tmpv4 were 7622 and 7771 bp in size, respectively. both pvs had a genomic organization characteristic of all pvs, with one non-coding region and seven orfs, including the e7 orf that is absen ...201526395390
the relationship between acoustic habitat, hearing and tonal vocalizations in the antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus, linnaeus, 1758).the antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus) is an endangered marine mammal that inhabits the caribbean sea and riverine systems in central america. their acoustic behavior is relevant for individual identification, mating and parental care. manatees produce tonal sounds with highest energy in the second harmonic (usually 5 khz), and their audiogram indicates sensitivity from 0.3 khz to 90 khz with lowest thresholds in the 16 to 18 khz range. we recorded manatees in the san san river, a hi ...201526340942
establishment of echocardiographic parameters of clinically healthy florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).a standardized echocardiographic technique was recently established for the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris). there are no available published data on normal echocardiographic parameters in any sirenian species. the purpose of this study was to report reference parameters for various echocardiographic measurements. these parameters are intended to serve as a comparison for future research into the prevalence of cardiac diseases in the manatee and to aid in diagnosing animals with ...201526056870
reproductive neoplasms in wild and long-term captive female florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).few reports of neoplastic diseases in manatees exist in the veterinary literature. this case series presents reproductive neoplasia noted in eight wild and long-term captive female florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) obtained through carcass recovery and animal rehabilitation programs between april 2009 and may 2014. all cases were evaluated histologically, and diagnoses of uterine carcinoma (n = 1), granulosa cell tumor (n = 2), ovarian adnexal tumor (n = 1), and leiomyoma (n = 5) ...201526667547
establishment of reference values for various coagulation tests in healthy florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) and evaluation of coagulation in debilitated manatees during rehabilitation.to establish reference ranges for coagulation parameters in healthy florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) and compare results with those for debilitated manatees undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation facility.201526480015
debris ingestion by the antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus).the antillean manatee inhabits coastal regions of north and northeastern brazil and currently is considered an endangered species in the country. aiming to gather information for the development of public policies focusing on the conservation of manatees, the national center for research and conservation of aquatic mammals of the chico mendes institute for biodiversity has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing these mammals since the 1980s. over the last 36 years, 40 manatees were released ...201526431561
neuron types in the presumptive primary somatosensory cortex of the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).within afrotherians, sirenians are unusual due to their aquatic lifestyle, large body size and relatively large lissencephalic brain. however, little is known about the neuron type distributions of the cerebral cortex in sirenians within the context of other afrotherians and aquatic mammals. the present study investigated two cortical regions, dorsolateral cortex area 1 (dl1) and cluster cortex area 2 (cl2), in the presumptive primary somatosensory cortex (s1) in florida manatees (trichechus man ...201526613530
yeast microbiota of natural cavities of manatees (trichechus inunguis and trichechus manatus) in brazil and its relevance for animal health and management in captivity.the aim of this study was to characterize the yeast microbiota of natural cavities of manatees kept in captivity in brazil. sterile swabs from the oral cavity, nostrils, genital opening, and rectum of 50 trichechus inunguis and 26 trichechus manatus were collected. the samples were plated on sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol and incubated at 25 °c for 5 days. the yeasts isolated were phenotypically identified by biochemical and micromorphological tests. overall, 141 strains were isolated, of w ...201526308797
bipolaris hawaiiensis as an emerging cause of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in an antillean manatee trichechus manatus manatus.phaeohyphomycoses are emerging and opportunistic diseases caused by dematiaceous fungi that infect many animal species. this paper describes a case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in an antillean manatee trichechus manatus manatus caused by bipolaris hawaiiensis. blackish skin lesions were observed in an antillean manatee calf held captive in brazil. direct examination of skin scraping from the affected areas revealed the presence of dematious hyphae. culture of skin fragments led to the isolatio ...201525667338
multiple conformations are a conserved and regulatory feature of the rb1 5' utr.folding to a well-defined conformation is essential for the function of structured ribonucleic acids (rnas) like the ribosome and trna. structured elements in the untranslated regions (utrs) of specific messenger rnas (mrnas) are known to control expression. the importance of unstructured regions adopting multiple conformations, however, is still poorly understood. high-resolution shape-directed boltzmann suboptimal sampling of the homo sapiens retinoblastoma 1 (rb1) 5' utr yields three distinct ...201525999316
osmoregulation in wild and captive west indian manatees (trichechus manatus).the ability of west indian manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris and trichechus manatus manatus) to inhabit both freshwater and marine habitats presents an interesting model to study osmoregulation in sirenians. blood samples were analyzed from manatees held in fresh- and saltwater and from wild animals captured in fresh-, brackish, and saltwater for concentrations of aldosterone, arginine vasopressin, plasma renin activity, na+, k+, cl-, and osmolality. two separate experiments were also con ...20159678505
fishery gear interactions from stranded bottlenose dolphins, florida manatees and sea turtles in florida, u.s.a.documenting the extent of fishery gear interactions is critical to wildlife conservation efforts, especially for reducing entanglements and ingestion. this study summarizes fishery gear interactions involving common bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus truncatus), florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) and sea turtles: loggerhead (caretta caretta), green turtle (chelonia mydas), leatherback (dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (eretmochelys imbricata), kemp's ridley (lepidochelys kemp ...201424613263
seasonal prevalence of antibodies to leptospira interrogans in antillean manatees from a landlocked lake in tabasco, mexico.factors that alter the dynamics of ecologic systems can influence transmission of infectious diseases and may lead to decreases in natural populations. leptospirosis is a cosmopolitan disease of zoonotic importance that affects most mammals. at the southern gulf of mexico, antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus) inhabit highly variable environments, with extended floods during the rainy season and drought conditions during the dry season that affect food availability and the thermal envi ...201424779468
acoustical and anatomical determination of sound production and transmission in west indian (trichechus manatus) and amazonian (t. inunguis) manatees.west indian (trichechus manatus) and amazonian (t. inunguis) manatees are vocal mammals, with most sounds produced for communication between mothers and calves. while their hearing and vocalizations have been well studied, the actual mechanism of sound production is unknown. acoustical recordings and anatomical examination were used to determine the source of sound generation. recordings were performed on live captive manatees from puerto rico, cuba and colombia (t. manatus) and from peru (t. in ...201425044536
variation in the hindgut microbial communities of the florida manatee, trichechus manatus latirostris over winter in crystal river, florida.the florida manatee, trichechus manatus latirostris, is a hindgut-fermenting herbivore. in winter, manatees migrate to warm water overwintering sites where they undergo dietary shifts and may suffer from cold-induced stress. given these seasonally induced changes in diet, the present study aimed to examine variation in the hindgut bacterial communities of wild manatees overwintering at crystal river, west florida. faeces were sampled from 36 manatees of known sex and body size in early winter wh ...201424215517
diagnostic stages of the parasites of the florida manatee, trichechus manatus latirostris.limited information is available on diagnostic stages of parasites in florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris). we examined 67 fecal samples from captive and wild manatees to define the diagnostic stages of the parasite fauna known to occur in florida manatees. parasite eggs were freshly extracted ex utero from identified mature helminths and subsequently characterized, illustrated, and matched to those isolated from fecal samples. in addition, coccidian oocysts in the fecal samples wer ...201424116863
estimating abundance while accounting for rarity, correlated behavior, and other sources of variation in counts.the class of n-mixture models allows abundance to be estimated from repeated, point count surveys while adjusting for imperfect detection of individuals. we developed an extension of n-mixture models to account for two commonly observed phenomena in point count surveys: rarity and lack of independence induced by unmeasurable sources of variation in the detectability of individuals. rarity increases the number of locations with zero detections in excess of those expected under simple models of ab ...201323951707
echocardiographic evaluation of clinically healthy florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).antemortem studies pertaining to the manatee cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems are limited despite reports of cardiac disease in postmortem specimens. the objective of this project was to develop a technique for echocardiography in the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris). because of their unique anatomy, a ventral approach was employed by use of an echocardiography table designed specifically for this study. fourteen clinically healthy, free-ranging and captive florida mana ...201323805547
blood mineral concentrations in manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris and trichechus manatus manatus).limited information is available regarding the role of minerals and heavy metals in the morbidity and mortality of manatees. whole-blood and serum mineral concentrations were evaluated in apparently healthy, free-ranging florida (trichechus manatus latirostris, n = 31) and belize (trichechus manatus manatus, n = 14) manatees. toxicologic statuses of the animals and of their environment had not been previously determined. mean mineral whole-blood (wb) and serum values in florida (fl) and belize ( ...201323805546
detection of hydrodynamic stimuli by the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).florida manatees inhabit the coastal and inland waters of the peninsular state. they have little difficulty navigating the turbid waterways, which often contain obstacles that they must circumnavigate. anatomical and behavioral research suggests that the vibrissae and associated follicle-sinus complexes that manatees possess over their entire body form a sensory array system for detecting hydrodynamic stimuli analogous to the lateral line system of fish. this is consistent with data highlighting ...201323660811
improving conservation of florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris): conceptualization and contributions toward a regional warm-water network management strategy for sustainable winter habitat.we used southwestern florida as a case study to lay the groundwork for an intended and organized decision-making process for managing warm-water habitat needed by endangered manatees to survive winters in florida. scientists and managers have prioritized (a) projecting how the network of warm-water sites will change over the next 50 years as warmed industrial discharges may expire and as flows of natural springs are reduced through redirection of water for human uses, and (b) mitigating such cha ...201323161252
conservative management of pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum in two florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).two distressed florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris) were reported to the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission. the first animal was determined to be an abandoned, emaciated calf. the second animal was a nursing calf that had sustained watercraft-related trauma. both animals were captured and transported to tampa's lowry park zoo, where diagnostic evaluations, including physical examinations, blood work, computed tomography (ct), and radiographs were performed. radiograp ...201324450060
assessement of serum amyloid a levels in the rehabilitation setting in the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).the acute phase protein serum amyloid a (saa) has been previously shown to have value as a biomarker of inflammation and infection in many species, including manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris). in the current study, results from an automated assay for saa were used in a rehabilitation setting. reference intervals were established from clinically normal manatees using the robust method: 0-46 mg/l. more than 30-fold higher mean saa levels were observed in manatees suffering from cold stress ...201324450049
evidence of sirenian cold stress syndrome in dugongs dugong dugon from southeast queensland, australia.cold stress syndrome (css) is the term used to describe the range of clinical signs and chronic disease processes that can occur in florida, usa, manatees trichechus manatus latirostris exposed to water temperatures below 20°c for extended periods. although no cold-related adverse events have been described in the closely related dugong dugong dugon thus far, it has been established that they make movements in response to water temperatures lower than about 17 to 18°c. in this study, archive rep ...201323482380
the west indian manatee (trichechus manatus) lacks a vomeronasal organ.completely aquatic marine mammals of the order cetacea such as whales and dolphins have a reduced or absent olfactory system and neither a vomeronasal organ nor an accessory olfactory bulb. in comparison, seals, which are only partially aquatic, have olfactory and accessory olfactory systems including the vomeronasal organ. thus, there seems to be a strong relation between the degree of adaptation to an aquatic environment and the degree of reduction in olfactory structures. sirenians, such as m ...20133843069
health assessment and seroepidemiologic survey of potential pathogens in wild antillean manatees (trichechus manatus manatus).the antillean manatee (trichechus manatus manatus), a subspecies of the west indian manatee, inhabits fresh, brackish, and warm coastal waters distributed along the eastern border of central america, the northern coast of south america, and throughout the wider caribbean region. threatened primarily by human encroachment, poaching, and habitat degradation, antillean manatees are listed as endangered by the international union for the conservation of nature. the impact of disease on population vi ...201222984521
evaluation of exertion and capture stress in serum of wild dugongs (dugong dugon).seven hundred fifty-one dugongs (dugong dugon) were pursued, captured, and handled for up to 20 min for population sampling. fifty of these dugongs were then removed from the water for up to 55 min for comprehensive medical examination. fifty whole blood and separated serum samples were analyzed for potassium, sodium, chloride, creatinine kinase (ck), aspartate aminotransferase (ast), alanine aminotransferase (alt), lactate dehydrogenase (ldh), urea, creatinine, glucose, anion gap, and total blo ...201222448507
disseminated toxoplasmosis in antillean manatees trichechus manatus manatus from puerto rico.necropsies were conducted on 4 antillean manatees trichechus manatus manatus that were stranded in single events on the coastal beaches of puerto rico from august 2010 to august 2011. three manatees were emaciated and the gastrointestinal tracts were devoid of digesta. microscopically, all manatees had severe widespread inflammatory lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and heart with intralesional tachyzoites consistent with toxoplasma gondii identified by histological, ultrastructural and immu ...201223135141
hysteroscopy and episiotomy in a rescued, cold-stressed florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) for diagnosis and treatment of a retained fetal skeleton.a rescued female manatee was observed expelling a fetal bone from the vulva. the manatee was anesthetized and diagnosed with uterine retention of a fetal skeleton by ultrasound and hysteroscopy. episiotomy was performed to gain manual access to the vagina and uterus for removal of the skeleton. second intention healing of the episiotomy site produced excellent results. rescued female manatees should receive a thorough reproductive tract evaluation since presence of retained fetal tissues might n ...201223082540
growth pattern differences of captive born antillean manatee (trichechus manatus) calves and those rescued in the brazilian northeastern coast.the aim of this work was to analyze whether there are differences between the development pattern of antillean manatee (trichechus manatus) calves born in captivity and those rescued and kept under rehabilitation. biometrics data were collected from 1990 to 2010 from 38 calves, 29 of which still had the remnants of the umbilical cord and had been rescued from the brazilian northeastern coastline (group i), and nine individuals that were born in captivity and remained with their mothers (group ii ...201223082512
diaphragmatic hernia and right-sided heart enlargement in a florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris).postmortem evaluation of a florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) revealed cold stress lesions and previous watercraft trauma that included broken ribs, a diaphragmatic hernia, an enlarged vena cava, and right-sided cardiomegaly. we discuss these findings and present a possible pathogenesis for the cardiomegaly.201223060518
contaminant concentrations, biochemical and hematological biomarkers in blood of west indian manatees trichechus manatus from brazil.the west indian manatee trichechus manatus is threatened with extinction in brazil, and this study focused on nondestructive blood samples analyzed for metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) and organochlorine pesticides (ocps), as well as biochemical and hematological biomarkers. studied manatees were kept at projeto peixe-boi headquarters in pernambuco state, and at two natural areas in estuaries where they are released to the wild. manatees kept at the natural estuary in paraiba state have ...201222626623
audiogram and auditory critical ratios of two florida manatees (trichechus manatus latirostris).manatees inhabit turbid, shallow-water environments and have been shown to have poor visual acuity. previous studies on hearing have demonstrated that manatees possess good hearing and sound localization abilities. the goals of this research were to determine the hearing abilities of two captive subjects and measure critical ratios to understand the capacity of manatees to detect tonal signals, such as manatee vocalizations, in the presence of noise. this study was also undertaken to better unde ...201222496279
ganglion cell distribution and retinal resolution in the florida manatee, trichechus manatus latirostris.the topographic organization of retinal ganglion cells was examined in the florida manatee (trichechus manatus latirostris) to assess ganglion cell size and distribution and to estimate retinal resolution. the ganglion cell layer of the manatee's retina was comprised primarily of large neurons with broad intercellular spaces. cell sizes varied from 10 to 60 μm in diameter (mean 24.3 μm). the retinal wholemounts from adult animals measured 446-501 mm(2) in area with total ganglion cell counts of ...201221964938
phylogeography and sex-biased dispersal across riverine manatee populations (trichechus inunguis and trichechus manatus) in south america.phylogeographic patterns and sex-biased dispersal were studied in riverine populations of west indian (trichechus manatus) and amazonian manatees (t. inunguis) in south america, using 410bp d-loop (control region, mitochondrial dna) sequences and 15 nuclear microsatellite loci. this multi-locus approach was key to disentangle complex patterns of gene flow among populations. d-loop analyses revealed population structuring among all colombian rivers for t. manatus, while microsatellite data sugges ...201223285054
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