Review of lobomycosis and lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) in Cetacea from South America. Scientific Committee document SC/60/DW13, International Whaling Commission, June 2008, Santiago, Chile

• Main Authors: Siciliano, S., Van Bressem, M.-F., Moreno, I.B., Ott, P.H., Tavares, M., Flores, P.A.C., Flach, L., Reyes, J.C., Echegaray, M., Santos, M.C.O., Viddi, F., Crespo, E.A., Klaich, M.J., Félix, F., Sanino, G.P., Van Waerebeek, K.
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Indian; Pacific; baleen whales
• Online Access: https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/243189.pdf

Caused by a yeast-like organism known as Lacazia loboi , Lobomycosis (or lacaziosis) naturally affects humans, common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncates ) inhabiting coastal waters from southern Brazil to Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast of Florida, as well as botos-cinza ( Sotalia guianensis ). These species are usually found in coastal waters, subject to runoff provided by large rivers and a considerable burden of associated contaminants. Histological and morphological studies demonstrated that the etiological agent of L. loboi infecting humans is different from the one found to infected dolphins. Moreover, it likely that dolphin-human infections do not occur although infected bottlenose dolphins were from populations engaged in cooperative fishing that involve a relative small number of dolphins and humans. The records of Lobomycosis and Lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) in Tramandaí estuary (29o58´S), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, represent the southernmost distribution of L. loboi . On the other hand, the northernmost distribution of this disease is reported in the southern portion of Indian River Lagoon (27°25´N), Florida, USA. LLD seems to be more widespread, infecting both toothed small cetaceans and baleen whales, from the tropical Atlantic to the Pacific. Future studies should evaluate the association with impaired immune function in affected dolphins and the emergency of Lobomycosis. It may be associated with an immunosuppressive factor of environmental origin, such as exposure to pesticides or other agricultural or industrial contaminants, introduced through runoff or point sources of pollution, altering conditions to favour disease emergence. Lobomycosis should be assigned as neglected tropical disease, as should be the case of LLD, if future investigations indicate their connection as an emerging pathogen, its pathogenicity and environment requirements.