Shotgun metabolomic analysis of killer whale (Orcinus orca) exhaled breath condensate

Authors: HARSLA, TREVOR - Iowa State University; BREITZMAN, MATTHEW - Iowa State University; SHOWMAN, LUCAS - Iowa State University; ROBECK, TODD - Hubbs-Sea World; STAGGS, LYDIA - Hubbs-Sea World; RUSSEL, JENNIFER - Hubbs-Sea World; SCHMITT, TODD - Hubbs-Sea World; STEINMAN, KAREN - Hubbs-Sea World; MCGILL, JODI - Iowa State University; Sacco, Randy; Lippolis, John

Submitted to: Journal of Breath Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2024
Publication Date: 12/17/2024
Citation: Harsla, T.R., Breitzman, M.W., Showman, L.J., Robeck, T.R., Staggs, L.A., Russel, J.P., Schmitt, T.L., Steinman, K.J., Mcgill, J.L., Sacco, R.E., Lippolis, J.D. 2024. Shotgun metabolomic analysis of killer whale (Orcinus orca) exhaled breath condensate. Journal of Breath Research. 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/ad9ac5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/ad9ac5

Interpretive Summary: The ocean is facing many anthropogenic stressors caused from both pollution and climate change. These stressors are significantly impacting and changing the ocean’s ecosystem, and as such, methods must continually be developed that can improve our ability to monitor the health of marine life. For cetaceans, the current practice for health assessments of individuals requires live capture and release, which is expensive, usually stressful, and for larger species impractical. In this study, we investigated the potential of blow or exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples to provide unique metabolomic profiles from healthy killer whales (Orcinus orca) of varying known age and sex. EBC collection is a non-invasive procedure that has potential for remote collection using unmanned aerial vehicles, thus improving our ability to understand physiologic parameters within wild populations while minimizing stress from collection procedures However, descriptions of the available metabolome within EBC and its clinical significance within animals of known health and age must be described before this technique can be considered diagnostically useful. We describe normal variations of the metabolites across age and sex and provide evidence for the potential of this breath analysis method to become a valuable adjunctive tool for assessing the health of managed-care and free-ranging killer whales.

Technical Abstract: In the modern day, the ocean is experiencing many changes due to pollution and global warming. These changes significantly impact the ocean’s ecosystem, which leads to an increased need to improve methods of health monitoring for marine life. Cetaceans, in particular, have always been difficult to monitor due to their large size and aquatic environment. In this paper we look to expand on the methods of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) metabolomics as a means of health monitoring in orca. EBC collection is a non-invasive procedure that can be collected remotely using unmanned aerial vehicles, improving our ability to collect information on wild populations while minimizing stress to the organisms. However, much more information on the composition and collection capabilities of orca EBC is needed before any kind of diagnostics are readily available for use. We believe this method of breath analysis can be a valuable tool for assessing health of wild and captive orcas.