Dear MARMAM community,
On behalf of my co-authors, I am very pleased to share our new open-access 
paper entitled:
“Culture-based characterization of the respiratory mycobiota and antifungal 
resistance in bottlenose dolphins under human care”
Published in One Health:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101439
Abstract:
Fungal colonization and antifungal resistance in marine mammals remain 
critically understudied despite their potential ecological, clinical, and One 
Health relevance. In this study, we performed a comprehensive culture-based 
characterization of the respiratory fungal community in ten common bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care, using non-invasive exhaled 
breath sampling, differential incubation temperatures, and antifungal 
susceptibility testing.
We identified 19 fungal taxa and 91 isolates, with filamentous fungi 
predominating over yeasts. Aspergillus was the most frequently recovered genus, 
including A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, A. flavus, and species not 
previously reported in cetaceans, such as A. glaucus and A. ochraceus. Other 
relevant molds included Fusarium dimerum and Mucor spp. The recovered yeasts 
included Candida albicans, Nakaseomyces glabratus, and Meyerozyma 
guilliermondii.
Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed azole resistance or reduced 
susceptibility among several yeast and filamentous fungal isolates, including 
multidrug-resistant profiles. Susceptibility to echinocandins and amphotericin 
B was preserved. Resistant isolates were mainly detected in dolphins with 
previous antifungal exposure, raising concern about potential selective 
pressure in managed settings. No pathogenic fungi shared with the dolphins were 
recovered from aquarium water.
>From a marine mammal health perspective, this study provides new baseline 
>information on the respiratory fungal communities of bottlenose dolphins and 
>highlights the potential influence of previous antifungal exposure on 
>resistance patterns. Although the study was conducted in dolphins under human 
>care, the findings also raise broader questions regarding fungal disease 
>surveillance, therapeutic decision-making, and the potential role of cetaceans 
>as sentinels of environmental antifungal resistance.
Authors:
Victor Garcia-Bustos; Alba Cecilia Ruiz-Gaitán; Begoña Acosta-Hernández; Teresa 
Álvaro; Carlos Rojo-Solís; Mónica Valls; José Manuel Pérez-Royo; Inmaculada 
Rosario Medina.
If you have any questions about our findings, are conducting related research, 
or would be interested in exploring potential collaborations on fungal ecology, 
infectious diseases, or antifungal resistance in marine mammals, please feel 
free to get in touch at [email protected].
Best wishes,
Victor Garcia-Bustos
University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Severe Infection Research Group
Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain


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