Discovery Of New Virus In Stranded Dolphin Has Implications For Dolphins, Other Animals, Humans

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
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Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Discovery Of New Virus In Stranded Dolphin Has Implications For Dolphins, Other Animals, Humans

Researchers at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues have identified a new virus associated with the death of a short-beaked dolphin found stranded on a beach in San Diego. It is the first time that a virus belonging to the polyomavirus family has been found in a dolphin. Results appear online in the journal PLOS ONE.

Polyomavirus is known to cause disease in birds, but in mammals it is usually mild or subclinical, explains lead author Simon Anthony, PhD, a researcher in the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School. "It is therefore interesting that this particular polyomavirus appears to be what killed this dolphin. It's no immediate cause for alarm, but it's an important data point in understanding this family of viruses and the diseases they cause."

This discovery will help prepare scientists for future disease outbreaks and could even be useful in solving past unsolved cases. "There are many cases of disease in animals that we never have solved," says Dr. Anthony. When we make a new discovery like this, it allows us to ask, Have we seen it before? Will we see it again?"

The dolphin, a female calf, was found dead in October 2010. Judy St. Leger, DVM, of SeaWorld in San Diego, a co-author of the study, conducted a necropsy that identified the cause of death as tracheal bronchitis with signs of an infection, which an electron microscope revealed to be of possible viral origin. To identify the culprit, she sent a biological sample to the Center for Infection and Immunity in New York, where Dr. Anthony used high throughput DNA sequencing and a number of other techniques to identify the novel polyomavirus.

Genetic analysis showed that the polyomavirus in the San Diego dolphin was distinct from other members of the virus family. Drs. Anthony and St. Leger postulate that this might be one of many such viruses that exist in dolphins and other marine mammals. They are now searching for more examples of polyomavirus in dolphins. "It's possible that many dolphins carry this virus or other polyomaviruses without significant problems. Or perhaps it's like the common cold where they get sick for a short while and recover," says Dr. St. Leger.

Dr. Anthony stresses that without more work to study the diversity and prevalence of polyomaviruses in dolphins and other marine mammals, it is difficult to know what the specific threat of this new virus is. ''We don't even know if this is even a dolphin virus. It could also represent a spillover event from another species.'' While unknown in this case, the possibility intrigues him. "Several important outbreaks in the past have resulted from viruses jumping into new hosts,'' he says, citing another Anthony-St. Leger collaboration where they documented a case of bird flu in a seal population in New England (findings were published in mBio).

But for now, the significance of the discovery of a polyomavirus in a dolphin is that it appears to be the cause of death of this animal, and as Dr. Anthony notes, "One of our main goals is to protect the health of wildlife."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our infectious diseases / bacteria / viruses section for the latest news on this subject.

W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII), was senior author of the paper. Co-authors included Isamara Navarette-Macias, Maria Sanchez-Leon, Komal Jain, and Thomas Briese from CII; Eliza Liang from CII and EcoHealth Alliance; Tracie Seimon from CII and the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo; Judy St. Leger and Erica Nilson from SeaWorld; and William Karesh and Peter Daszak at EcoHealth Alliance.

The authors declare no conflicts.

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health

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There’s a Black Market for Botox & Other Things to Know Before Getting Injected

Botox might take years off your appearance, but before requesting your own injectable Fountain of Youth, make sure you know exactly what you're doing

By Kristin Booker - June 11, 2013

Botox Might Not Do What You Want It to
Many people confuse what Botox actually does with other age-fighting beauty injectables. “[Botox's] only benefit is to render a muscle weaker for 3-4 months. It doesn't fill lines, it just makes it harder to make the muscle contraction that creates the lines,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Misbah Khan, owner of M. Khan Dermatology in New York City. So will it work on those wrinkles around the mouth? “No. If you have smile lines [the parentheses around the mouth], you'll need a filler [like Restylane] to erase them.”

There's a Black Market
Many coupon services run deals for cheap series of Botox, and they’re probably all too good to be true. Before you buy into anything, know who and what you’re dealing with. “Do not look for the better deal. Make sure you know what’s going in your face. If it's too cheap, it may be acquired on the black market, or the Botox they’re using might be expired or about to expire," warns Dr. Khan.

You Could Have an Allergic Reaction
You may know that Botox is derived from the same bacteria as the toxin botulism, and while you absolutely cannot catch botulism from the use of Botox, there is a small chance that you could have an allergic reaction to preservatives and ingredients used. "Some reactions that have been reported include itching, rash, welts, asthma symptoms or feeling faint,” says Dr. Dennis Gross, founder of 900 5th Dermatology and creator of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. If you do have a reaction, call your doctor right away.

An Unskilled Injector Might Leave You Lopsided
“If the Botox is injected wrong in any part of your face, you may have a lopsided appearance,” says Dr. Gross. “Just remember that there is an artistry involved in the technique, so be sure your physician is highly experienced and skilled at administering it.”

Overdoing It Could Lead to Drooping—or Worse
“Drooping of the eyebrows can happen even in the best of hands; it can occur if too much is injected in one place,” says Dr. Khan. And if you’re already using Botox, over-application could make it worse. “Overuse of Botox can cause the muscles to become so weak that they can't support the flesh.” The results can look unnatural, and even worse, be painful. “If too much Botox is applied during a neck rejuvenation, it can cause the side of the face to droop, or in some cases the muscles that hold the neck up weaken to the point where you can't swallow or hold your head up."

Speaking Up Can Divert Disaster
You might think that you really, really want Botox no matter the small risks, but the pursuit of beauty is never worth harming your health. As with any other procedure, you should always disclose your full medical history before sitting in the chair. “Make sure to tell your doctor about all of your muscle or nerve conditions, as you may have an increased risk of serious side-effects, including difficulty swallowing and/or breathing,” cautions Dr. Gross. “Also, inform your doctor of any surgery plans, weakness of forehead muscles, recent injections, or medicines you are currently taking.” Dr. Gervaise Gerstner, L’Oréal Paris Consulting Dermatologist adds one more caution to that list: “Be sure to disclose any autoimmune neuromotor disease like myasenthia gravis.”

Results Are Not Instant
“It takes about three to seven days to show the full effect, and results will last about four months,” says Dr. Gross. And those results vary, depending on the depth of your wrinkles. “If you start Botox treatments just as fine lines are beginning to appear and continue them as you age, you can prevent select expression lines from forming at all,” advises Dr. Gross. Patients who already have pronounced lines may see benefits in a bit more time, “It takes a few days to see results, and a full two weeks to see the full effects of a Botox treatment,” explains Dr. Khan.

Botox is Not Painless
Although getting Botox is not particularly painful for most patients, since there are needles involved, you can’t expect to feel absolutely nothing when getting injected. “During the procedure, you can expect a slight pinch from the needle. There are numbing creams available in topical and aesthetic forms,” says Dr. Gross. Dr. Khan is also known to use ice to numb the area for people who have a low tolerance or phobia of needles.

Aspirin and Fish Oil Don't Mix With Botox
“We tell our patients to stop using aspirin products up to a week before a treatment because they are blood thinners,” cautions Dr. Gross. "Discontinuing the use of aspirin the week before will help to keep bruising down. Also, we tell our patients to stop using fish oils a week beforehand because they also promote bruising for the same blood thinning reason.” Of course, always discuss changing the dosage of medicine with your primary physician beforehand.

Hair-Drying Is Off Limits Right After the Procedure
“There’s no lowering of the head for two hours post-procedure,” says Dr. Gerstner. “No yoga, no bending over, no blow drying your hair, no tight hats, no napping. In other words, heads up!”

It Might Cure More Than Wrinkles
If you have excessive underarm or palm sweating or suffer from serious migraines, talk to your doctor about using Botox to cure these ills. It's been proven to diminish or stop excessive sweating, called hyperhidrosis, and to reduce the severity of migraines too—but don’t try tacking either treatment onto your cosmetic visit. You’ll need to book separate appointments. One quick tip: always take a quick peek at the box. “Botox meant for cosmetic purposes will say ‘Botox Cosmetic’ on the packaging,” says Dr. Khan. “Botox for medical purposes will say that on the package.”

A Happier Look Might Actually Improve Your Mood
If you’re prone to frowning, “eventually those muscles strengthen in that formation, which means it takes much effort to smile and look happy. When Botox relaxes those muscles, you look happier, which can really improve your mood and confidence,” says Dr. Gross.

Kristin Booker is a contributing writer on iVillage. Follow her on Twitter andGoogle+.

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