Co-occurrence of multiple classes of harmful algal toxins in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranding during an unusual mortality event in Texas, USA

During February–April 2008, an unusual mortality event occurred in Texas coastal waters that resulted in over 100 bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) deaths. This mortality event overlapped spatially and temporally with a harmful algal bloom (HAB) composed of the toxin-producing genera Dinophysis spp. and Prorocentrum spp., and was associated with shellfish bed closures due to HAB toxins. A bloom of the toxin-producing diatom Pseudo-nitzschia pungens was also detected in Texas coastal waters in early April, towards the end of the dolphin mortality event. Analysis of dolphin gastrointestinal contents collected during this event demonstrated the presence of the HAB toxins domoic acid and okadaic acid in association with these blooms, as well as evidence of brevetoxin exposure in the absence of an associated K. brevis bloom.Historical dolphin stranding data for Texas waters indicate seasonal stranding peaks similar to the present study, indicating a need for investigating potential HAB involvement in mass strandings in previous years and in future events. This study marks the first reported occurrence of okadaic acid in marine mammals, and documents a unique co-occurrence of multiple HAB toxins associated with an unusual mortality event. Texas waters harbor a high diversity of HAB events relative to other coastal regions, and this study highlights the importance of efforts to understand the impacts of such HAB events on the health of Texas marine wildlife.

Research highlights
► Evidence of exposure to okadaic acid, domoic acid and brevetoxins during a dolphin mortality event.
► Multiple HABs associated with an unusual mortality event in marine mammals.
► HAB toxin analyses of gastrointestinal contents demonstrated food web exposure.