GOMESA Application Details

Internal Project Number: 281405
1. Title of Project: Protecting Mississippi Sound Dolphins: Understanding the Role of Disease and Parasites in Dolphin Strandings
2. Location of Project: Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine in Starkville, MS and MSU Gulf Coast Aquatic Health Lab in Gautier, MS
3. Requesting Organization: Mississippi State University
4a. Name: Kacey Strickland
4b. Position
4c. Phone Number: 6623257404
4d. Fax Number
4e. Address Line 1: 301 Research Blvd. P.O. Box 6156
4e. Address Line 2
4e. City, State Zip: Starkville, Mississippi
4f. Email: aor@osp.msstate.edu
5. FundingRequested: $2,367,934
Awarded Amount:
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: No
7a. Amount of Additional Funds
7b. Source of Additional Funds
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $2,367,934
9. Project Description/Overview: Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mississippi Sound are sentinel species of coastal ecosystem health and a protected public-trust resource. This project will improve the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ (MDMR) ability to interpret dolphin strandings, identify disease-related risks, and prioritize monitoring and conservation actions. Building on an established epidemiological database of strandings (2018–present), long-term collaboration with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, and prior MDMR GOMESA-funded work, this project integrates necropsy, pathogen and parasite diagnostics, and environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance to characterize disease processes associated with strandings. Systematic necropsies will generate standardized cause-of-death classifications and high-quality archived samples. Targeted analyses of Brucella ceti will evaluate strain patterns, tissue localization, and associations with lesions to improve interpretation of its role in morbidity and mortality. Parasitological assessments will distinguish incidental infections from those contributing to disease or increased susceptibility. An environmental component will use eDNA from water and sediment to identify spatial and temporal patterns of pathogen exposure. These data will be interpreted as indicators of environmental presence and integrated with necropsy findings to provide a broader ecological context. Project outputs will include standardized diagnostic protocols, annual dolphin health summaries, validated assays, geospatial eDNA assessments, and identification of seasonal and demographic risk indicators. A final decision-support framework will provide tools to support MDMR in improving stranding response, informing monitoring priorities, and mitigating diseaserelated impacts on dolphin populations and the Mississippi Sound ecosystem.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: 1. Cause of Death Investigation: Conduct systematic necropsies of stranded dolphins in the Mississippi Sound to establish baseline health data and support integrated disease investigations. Activities include full necropsy examinations, collection of morphometric and condition data, documentation of lesions, and targeted tissue sampling (e.g., CNS, lung, lymphatic, reproductive). Tissues will be archived and analyzed for bacteriology, molecular diagnostics, histopathology, and parasitology. Outcomes include standardized cause-of-death classifications, an archived tissue resource, and annual stranding health summaries for MDMR, building on established programs with IMMS. 2. Brucella Characterization and Environmental Detection: Evaluate Brucella across host tissues and the environment to assess strain diversity, tissue localization, and exposure patterns. Activities include culture, PCR confirmation, sequencing, and phylogenetic comparisons across individuals and time. In situ hybridization will link pathogen presence to tissue lesions. Environmental DNA (eDNA) from water and sediment will be analyzed to identify spatial and temporal patterns of pathogen exposure. Outcomes include improved interpretation of infection significance, surveillance tools, and identification of patterns relevant to monitoring and response. 3. Parasitological Assessment and Co-Infection Analysis: Characterize parasite communities and evaluate their role in disease processes. Activities include morphological and molecular identification of Nasitrema and lungworms, and development of a multiplex qPCR assay to assess parasite burden in archived and environmental samples. Results will distinguish incidental infections from those contributing to disease and identify potential exposure patterns. Findings will support identification of parasite-associated risks and improve interpretation of co-infections in stranding events.
11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?

(A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.: Yes: Bottlenose dolphins in the Mississippi Sound are sentinel indicators of coastal ecosystem health. This project mitigates damage to natural resources by improving diagnosis and management of diseases impacting this population, particularly Brucella ceti and parasitic co-infections. Through systematic necropsies, pathogen characterization, and environmental DNA surveillance, we will evaluate potential transmission pathways, tissue impacts, and environmental exposure patterns. These data will strengthen interpretation of stranding events, inform targeted monitoring, and guide management actions that reduce disease risk, support population resilience, protect the broader coastal ecosystem, and reduce zoonotic disease risk.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.

(D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: This is a 3-year project. Project Timetable/Milestones: Year 1: Project Initiation and Baseline Data Collection • Initiate systematic necropsy program for stranded dolphins in the Mississippi Sound • Establish standardized sampling, archiving, and diagnostic workflows • Begin bacteriological, molecular, histopathological, and parasitological analyses • Initiate Brucella isolation, PCR confirmation, and sequencing efforts • Begin preliminary parasite collection and morphological characterization • Launch eDNA sampling of water and sediment at key dolphin-use sites Milestones: Established necropsy pipeline; initial dataset of dolphin health metrics; first Brucella isolates sequenced; initial eDNA detection data MDMR Deliverable: Provide initial data to MDMR summarizing baseline findings to support ongoing monitoring and response efforts. Year 2: Integrated Pathogen and Co-Infection Analysis • Expand necropsy dataset across seasons and age classes • Conduct in situ hybridization (ISH) to define Brucella tissue tropism • Complete comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses of Brucella strains • Advance molecular characterization of parasites (NGS-based sequencing) • Develop and validate multiplex qPCR assay for Nasitrema spp. • Continue and refine eDNA surveillance and spatial-temporal analyses Milestones: Defined Brucella localization patterns; validated parasite diagnostics; integrated datasets linking pathology, infection, and co-infection • MDMR Deliverable: Share interim findings, including risk patterns and emerging insights, to inform ongoing monitoring and stranding response. Year 3: Synthesis, Environmental Linkages, and Management Translation • Complete integrated analysis of necropsy, pathogen, parasite, and eDNA datasets • Identify associations among Brucella, parasitism, lesion patterns, and environmental detection • Evaluate potential environmental reservoirs and transmission pathways • Develop risk-based interpretation framework for stranding events • Disseminate findings through reports, publications, and stakeholder outreach Milestones: Comprehensive dataset and synthesis; management-relevant recommendations; final reports and publications; guidance for long-term monitoring and mitigation strategies MDMR Deliverable: Provide a final synthesis of findings and decision-support resources to inform monitoring, response, and conservation efforts.
13. Project Timing: Short-term
14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):: Completed Paid For

15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?: This project directly supports the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ mission to enhance, protect, and conserve marine resources by addressing key threats to the health of bottlenose dolphins, an important sentinel species in the Mississippi Sound. By improving understanding of disease processes—particularly Brucella ceti infection and parasitic coinfections— this work strengthens the scientific foundation needed to interpret stranding events and assess population health. Through systematic necropsies, pathogen characterization, and environmental DNA monitoring, the project generates actionable data on disease drivers, transmission pathways, and environmental exposure. These findings will inform more effective monitoring, early detection of emerging health threats, and science-based management strategies. By identifying and mitigating disease risks that impact dolphin populations and their habitats, the project contributes to maintaining ecosystem balance and resilience. Ultimately, this research enhances the long-term stewardship of Mississippi’s marine resources, supporting sustainable conservation efforts that benefit both current and future generations.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 3
17. Estimated Completion Date: 9/30/2030

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $1,296,778
Travel: $27,000
Architecture & Engineering: $0
Legal: $0
Consulting: $0
Construction: $0
Site Work: $0
Equipment: $8,000
Indirects: $718,040
Other: $318,116
Total: $2,367,934


Application Submission Date: 07/01/2026
Fiscal Year: 2028
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:
Attachments:: https://gomesa.dmr.ms.gov/attachments/GOMESA_1405_Attachment.pdf
Hyperlink:: Attachments

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