Bringing Virtual Microscopy to Marine Bringing Virtual Microscopy to Marine Conservation: An Ocean of PossibilitiesConservation: An Ocean of Possibilities
Presenter: Margaret Rotstein, MSPresenter: Margaret Rotstein, MSSenior Research AnalystSenior Research Analyst
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR)NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR)
Synthesis Professional Services, Inc.
IntroductionIntroduction• The world’s oceans are increasingly threatened by impacts The world’s oceans are increasingly threatened by impacts
from pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, diseases, and from pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, diseases, and global climate changeglobal climate change
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been given the responsibility of protecting marine (NOAA) has been given the responsibility of protecting marine animals through science-based conservation and animals through science-based conservation and managementmanagement
• Two of these programs, Coral Health and Disease Two of these programs, Coral Health and Disease Consortium (CHDC) and the Marine Mammal Health and Consortium (CHDC) and the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) have cooperated Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) have cooperated to to improve the technology of sharing informationimprove the technology of sharing information on the on the histology and pathology of marine animals; particularly histology and pathology of marine animals; particularly corals corals and marine mammalsand marine mammals
Funding provided by:Funding provided by:
Marine Mammal Health and Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response ProgramStranding Response Program
andand
Coral Health and Coral Health and Disease ConsortiumDisease Consortium
Goals of Coral Health and Disease Goals of Coral Health and Disease Consortium (CHDC) Consortium (CHDC)
• Detect and assess trends in coral Detect and assess trends in coral diseases at the necessary scales for diseases at the necessary scales for scientific investigation and policy scientific investigation and policy development. development.
• Determine the causes and Determine the causes and consequences of increasing disease consequences of increasing disease frequency and distribution. frequency and distribution.
• Evaluate possible management Evaluate possible management responses designed to mitigate the responses designed to mitigate the spread and affects of disease on spread and affects of disease on coral reef ecosystems and their coral reef ecosystems and their users.users.
Goals of Marine Mammal Health and Goals of Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP)
• Facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data Facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data on health and health trends on health and health trends
• Correlate the health and health trends with physical, Correlate the health and health trends with physical, chemical and biological environmental parameterschemical and biological environmental parameters
• Coordinate effective responses to Coordinate effective responses to Unusual Mortality Events Unusual Mortality Events ((a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response))
The Challenge
• A global community of researchers require an efficient, A global community of researchers require an efficient,
low-cost solution to:low-cost solution to: consult with each other on unique casesconsult with each other on unique cases educate students and other scientistseducate students and other scientistsrapidly respond to unusual disease rapidly respond to unusual disease
outbreaks or mortality eventsoutbreaks or mortality events
• Establish a framework to systematically Establish a framework to systematically study pathologiesstudy pathologiesStandardize disease pathological Standardize disease pathological
descriptions descriptions Standardize normal morphological Standardize normal morphological
structurestructure
The ChallengeThe ChallengeCoral Histology and Histopathology Coral Histology and Histopathology
• Basic biology of normal corals is poorly understood• Understanding of coral pathology is limited to Understanding of coral pathology is limited to
descriptions of gross lesionsdescriptions of gross lesions• Names reflect observations (e.g. black band, white Names reflect observations (e.g. black band, white
band, dark spot)band, dark spot)• Our lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms
of coral pathologies inhibits our ability to manage the growing coral health problems
RodentHumanEquine
AvianExotic
DogCat
Free-rangingterrestrial
wildlife
Coral
Courtesy: Dr. T. Work, USGS
Middle Ages 21st Century
Status of Understanding Status of Understanding Coral Health and DiseaseCoral Health and Disease
Requirements• High resolution digital imaging of
glass microscope slides
• Software that provides Internet conferencing and annotation of digital slides
• Web-based Internet application that integrates databases with virtual slides to provide educational modules, training and case-based records
Morbillivirus infection in brain of Grey Seal
Working Towards a Solution
• October 2006 – through a partnership with MMHRSP and CDHC, purchase of Aperio Technologies, Inc Software and Scanning Services
• Plan to purchase ScanScope scanner in future• Development of web-based application and back-end
database to: Record histopathology data on Marine Mammal Strandings Link to data to associated slides on Aperio Server Provide library of reference coral slides showing normal and
abnormal histology Implement virtual rounds Provide education modules
Web-based Application:Functionality
PeriostealPeriosteal proliferation of proliferation of entangled humerus in Right entangled humerus in Right WhaleWhale
M. Moore, WHOI
ConsultationConsultation
Standardization / TerminologyStandardization / Terminology Consensus on nomenclature of coral anatomyConsensus on nomenclature of coral anatomy Consensus on all pathologies of marine mammals Consensus on all pathologies of marine mammals
(conditions, diseases and injuries) (conditions, diseases and injuries)
Mass Stranding Events / Disease Mass Stranding Events / Disease OutbreaksOutbreaks
Crisis events – digital images made available to Crisis events – digital images made available to experts world-wide for rapid responseexperts world-wide for rapid response
Review of findings from disease outbreaksReview of findings from disease outbreaks
Special Cases Special Cases Unique cases that require consultation / letigationUnique cases that require consultation / letigation
Audience: expertsAudience: experts
Web-based Application:Functionality
Training and CommunicationTraining and Communication
Virtual RoundsVirtual Rounds Web-based submissions, scheduling and case write-upsWeb-based submissions, scheduling and case write-ups Utilize Aperio’s Digital Slide Conferencing feature in ScanScope Utilize Aperio’s Digital Slide Conferencing feature in ScanScope
Individual CasesIndividual Cases Digital library of coral and marine mammal histology slidesDigital library of coral and marine mammal histology slides Education modules to demonstrate normal and Education modules to demonstrate normal and
abnormal histologyabnormal histology
Standard NomenclatureStandard Nomenclature Training scientists on the terminology used in coral Training scientists on the terminology used in coral
and marine mammal pathologyand marine mammal pathology
Audience: students, Audience: students, pathologists, marine pathologists, marine biologistsbiologists
Web-based Application:Functionality
Education Education web-enabled distance learning
Normal HistologyNormal HistologyPathology of common conditionsPathology of common conditionsStandardization / TerminologyStandardization / Terminology
Audience: publicAudience: public
Gas-filled cavities in the liver of a stranded common dolphin
Anatomy of Coral
Solutions
Oracle DB ServerOracle DB Server
NOAA Hardware Configuration
Virtual Microscope ServerVirtual Microscope Server
• Database – Oracle 10g• Web server - Apache• Virtual Microscope Server – Aperio Technologies• Application Server – ColdFusion MX
Internet Application
Internet Application
Internet Application
Internet Application
Internet Application
Internet Application
WWWNOAA
PORTALMain Entry
Contaminates(NWFSC, NIST)MS Access DB
Contaminates(NWFSC, NIST)MS Access DB
BiotoxinsBiotoxins
Diagnostic Pathology(NMFS)Oracle
Diagnostic Pathology(NMFS)Oracle
Clinical Pathology(NOS)
SQL Server
Clinical Pathology(NOS)
SQL Server
Virtual MicroscopeAperio Software
(NMFS/NOS)
Virtual MicroscopeAperio Software
(NMFS/NOS)
Cora l Health & Disease(NOS)
MMHRSP(NMFS)
Subsistence HuntBy-Catch and
others
Event-Based Software and Data
Core Biomedical Software and Data
Education Virtual Rounds Cases(NMFS/NOS)
Unusual Mortality Event
(NMFS)
Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response ProgramMarine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program• Teri Rowles, PhD, DVMTeri Rowles, PhD, DVM• David Rotstein, DVM, MPVM, DACVPDavid Rotstein, DVM, MPVM, DACVP• Kathy Burek, DVM, MS, DACVPKathy Burek, DVM, MS, DACVP• Angela Collins-Payne, Information SpecialistAngela Collins-Payne, Information Specialist
Coral Health and Disease ConsortiumCoral Health and Disease Consortium• Cheryl Woodley, PhDCheryl Woodley, PhD
Infected Sea Fan with Aspergillosis sydowii
Skin Lesion in Bottlenose dolphin
Acknowledgments