Michael T Walsh

Michael T Walsh,

Clinical Associate Professor- Aquatic Animal Health

Department: Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine
Business Phone: (352) 294-4199
Business Email: walshm@ufl.edu

Accomplishments

Diplomate
2017 · European College of Zoological Medicine
Regional Director’s Conservation Award
2008 · US Fish and Wildlife Service

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2010,2012-2017,2017-2025
VEM5377 Marine Mammal Med
2014-2018,2020
VEM5373 Manatee Hlth and Cons
2010-2013,2016-2025
VEM5378C Seavet Clin Training
2014-2017,2020
VME4016 Manatee Health and Conservation
2014-2017,2020
VME6017 Manatee Health & Conservation
2019-2024
VEM5041 Animal Welfare/Ethics
2018
VME7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2016
VME6905 Problems in Veterinary Medical Sciences
2012-2013
VME4906 Problems in Veterinary Science
2012-2013
VME6934 Topics in Veterinary Medical Sciences
2010-2012
VEM5008 Personal/Prof Develop
2011
VEM5810 Sen Clk Aquat Anm Med

Board Certifications

  • Diplomate
    European College of Zoological Medicine

Research Profile

Preventive medicine program development; conservation and endangered species research in sirenians, cetaceans, and sea turtles; clinical research to improve preventive medicine programs including nutrition, diagnostic and treatment protocol improvement and development; nutritional evaluation and components in cetaceans, manatees and sharks Whole blood element analysis in marine animals as a diagnostic tool; manatee milk analysis; use of thermography as a diagnostic tool.

Publications

Academic Articles
2024
In vitro impacts of glyphosate on manatee lymphocytes.
Environment international. 193 [DOI] 10.1016/j.envint.2024.109054. [PMID] 39537518.
2023
Case report: Sarcocystis speeri, Aspergillus fumigatus, and novel Treponema sp. infections in an adult Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis).
Frontiers in veterinary science. 10 [DOI] 10.3389/fvets.2023.1132161. [PMID] 37077953.
2021
Assessment of animal management and habitat characteristics associated with social behavior in bottlenose dolphins across zoological facilities.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0253732. [PMID] 34460835.
2021
Behavioral diversity as a potential positive indicator of animal welfare in bottlenose dolphins.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0253113. [PMID] 34460834.
2021
Bottlenose dolphin habitat and management factors related to activity and distance traveled in zoos and aquariums.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0250687. [PMID] 34460858.
2021
Chronic exposure to glyphosate in Florida manatee.
Environment international. 152 [DOI] 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106493. [PMID] 33740675.
2021
Environmental enrichment, training, and habitat characteristics of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus).
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0253688. [PMID] 34460831.
2021
Habitat characteristics and animal management factors associated with habitat use by bottlenose dolphins in zoological environments.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0252010. [PMID] 34460833.
2021
Health reference intervals and values for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0250332. [PMID] 34460864.
2021
Investigating an increase in Florida manatee mortalities using a proteomic approach.
Scientific reports. 11(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-021-83687-y. [PMID] 33608577.
2021
Reference intervals and values for fecal cortisol, aldosterone, and the ratio of cortisol to dehydroepiandrosterone metabolites in four species of cetaceans.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0250331. [PMID] 34460862.
2021
Relationships between animal management and habitat characteristics with two potential indicators of welfare for bottlenose dolphins under professional care.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0252861. [PMID] 34460839.
2021
Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in accredited zoos and aquariums.
PloS one. 16(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0255506. [PMID] 34460850.
2020
Characterization of the bacterial microbiome among free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Heliyon. 6(6) [DOI] 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03944. [PMID] 32577542.
2020
Investigating the gene expression profiles of rehabilitated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) following red tide exposure.
PloS one. 15(7) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0234150. [PMID] 32614830.
2020
POSTMORTEM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN A CASE OF COINFECTION OF DOLPHIN MORBILLIVIRUS AND ASPERGILLUS FUMIGATUS IN A JUVENILE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 51(2):448-454 [DOI] 10.1638/2019-0087. [PMID] 32549578.
2018
ANESTHESIA OF AQUARIUM-HOUSED WALRUS ( ODOBENUS ROSMARUS): A CASE SERIES.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 49(2):435-443 [DOI] 10.1638/2017-0167.1. [PMID] 29900767.
2017
AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS AND BEHAVIORAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH HEARING LOSS IN SMALL CETACEANS: APPLICATION AS A STANDARD DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN HEALTH ASSESSMENT.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 48(4):979-986 [DOI] 10.1638/2017-0045R.1. [PMID] 29297800.
2017
Dietary cation-anion difference may explain why ammonium urate nephrolithiasis occurs more frequently in common bottlenose dolphins () under human care than in free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins.
Journal of animal science. 95(3):1396-1406 [DOI] 10.2527/jas.2016.1113. [PMID] 28380506.
2017
Evaluation of Serum for Pathophysiological Effects of Prolonged Low Salinity Water Exposure in Displaced Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Frontiers in veterinary science. 4 [DOI] 10.3389/fvets.2017.00080. [PMID] 28642866.
2017
Genome Sequence of a Gammaherpesvirus from a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
Genome announcements. 5(31) [DOI] 10.1128/genomeA.00777-17. [PMID] 28774992.
2016
Baseline Reference Range for Trace Metal Concentrations in Whole Blood of Wild and Managed West Indian Manatees (Trichechus Manatus) in Florida and Belize
Aquatic Mammals. 42(4):440-453 [DOI] 10.1578/AM.42.4.2016.440.
2016
CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTERIOR SEGMENT OPHTHALMOLOGIC LESIONS IDENTIFIED IN FREE-RANGING DOLPHINS AND THOSE UNDER HUMAN CARE.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 47(1):56-75 [DOI] 10.1638/2014-0157.1. [PMID] 27010265.
2016
Coinfection by Cetacean morbillivirus and Aspergillus fumigatus in a juvenile bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Mexico.
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc. 28(6):729-734 [PMID] 27698174.
2016
Disseminated toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii in a wild Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris and seroprevalence in two wild populations.
Diseases of aquatic organisms. 122(1):77-83 [PMID] 27901507.
2014
Management of Wounds in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta) Caused By Traumatic Bycatch Injury From the Spines of a Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus Narinari)
. 45(2):428-432
2014
Management of wounds in a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) caused by traumatic bycatch injury from the spines of a spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 45(2):428-32 [PMID] 25000714.
2013
Echocardiographic evaluation of clinically healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 44(2):295-301 [PMID] 23805547.
2013
Gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma in a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 44(3):744-8 [PMID] 24063105.
2013
Intestinal and cloacal strictures in free-ranging and aquarium-maintained green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 44(2):408-29 [PMID] 23805560.
2013
Rope Trauma, Sedation, Disentanglement, and Monitoring-Tag Associated Lesions in a Terminally Entangled North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena Glacialis)
Marine Mammal Science. 29(2):E98-E113 [DOI] 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00591.x.
2012
The Onset of Goiter in Several Species of Sharks Following the Addition of Ozone To a Touch Pool
. 43:621-624
2012
The onset of goiter in several species of sharks following the addition of ozone to a touch pool.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 43(3):621-4 [PMID] 23082528.
2010
Cloning and functional characterization of Chondrichthyes, cloudy catshark, Scyliorhinus torazame and whale shark, Rhincodon typus estrogen receptors.
General and comparative endocrinology. 168(3):496-504 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.06.010. [PMID] 20600039.
2010
Sedation at sea of entangled North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) to enhance disentanglement.
PloS one. 5(3) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0009597. [PMID] 20231895.
2009
Baseline circulating immunoglobulin G levels in managed collection and free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Developmental and comparative immunology. 33(4):449-55 [DOI] 10.1016/j.dci.2008.09.002. [PMID] 18835295.
2009
Hematology of healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus).
Veterinary clinical pathology. 38(2):183-93 [DOI] 10.1111/j.1939-165X.2009.00113.x. [PMID] 19490571.
2008
Cross-reactivity between immunoglobulin G antibodies of whales and dolphins correlates with evolutionary distance.
Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI. 15(10):1547-54 [DOI] 10.1128/CVI.00219-08. [PMID] 18768672.
2008
In vitro susceptibility of sea lion poxvirus to cidofovir.
Antiviral research. 80(1):77-80 [DOI] 10.1016/j.antiviral.2008.03.007. [PMID] 18485494.
2007
Are outcomes of bimalleolar fractures poorer than those of lateral malleolar fractures with medial ligamentous injury?
The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume. 89(7):1438-41 [PMID] 17606780.
2007
Clinical biochemistry in healthy manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 38(2):269-79 [PMID] 17679511.
2007
Development and validation of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for the detection of immunoglobulin G of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc. 19(5):465-70 [PMID] 17823388.
2007
Orthopedic surgery residents’ study habits and performance on the orthopedic in-training examination.
American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.). 36(12):E185-8 [PMID] 18264562.
2006
Parapoxviruses of seals and sea lions make up a distinct subclade within the genus Parapoxvirus.
Virology. 349(2):316-24 [PMID] 16490227.
2006
Seroepidemiology of parapoxvirus infections in captive and free-ranging California sea lions Zalophus californianus.
Diseases of aquatic organisms. 69(2-3):153-61 [PMID] 16724559.
1995
Morbillivirus infection in cetaceans of the western Atlantic.
Veterinary microbiology. 44(2-4):241-9 [PMID] 8588318.
1987
Omphalitis and peritonitis in a young West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus).
Journal of wildlife diseases. 23(4):702-4 [PMID] 3682102.

Grants

Sep 2024 ACTIVE
Guardians of the Gulf: Promoting Youth Engagement for Marine Animal Conservation in Floridas Nature Coast
Role: Co-Project Director/Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE ENG AND MED
Jul 2024 ACTIVE
University of Florida Marine Animal Rescue: Public Outreach Initiatives, Sustainable Equipment Management Upgrades and Continued Maintenance for Manatee Response, Rescue and Carcass Retrieval
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US DEPT OF INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SE
Jul 2024 ACTIVE
Continue Capacity for Marine Mammal Standings within the University of Florida Response Areas (FL)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOU via US DEPT OF COMM NATL OCEANIC & ATMOS ADM
Jun 2024 ACTIVE
Develop & Further Training in Care of Marine Mammals with Emphasis on Manatees
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: FL FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMM
Jul 2023 ACTIVE
Phase Two: Enhanced Manatee Response Capacity with a Multi-use Towing Truck for Transport of Personnel, Response Boat, Carcass Trailer and New Mobile Response and Processing Trailer
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US DEPT OF INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SE
Jul 2022 ACTIVE
Enhancement of Diagnostic Support, Assistance and Management Capability of Ill, Injured, Starving and Out of Habitat Manatees in Florida with Particular Emphasis along Floridas Atlantic Coast UME
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US DEPT OF INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SE
Oct 2021 – Nov 2022
Volusia County Agreement for Veterinary Services with University of Florida
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: VOLUSIA COUNTY
Jun 2021 – Jun 2024
Develop and Further Training in Case of Marine Mammals with Emphasis on Manatees, FY21-24
Role: Other
Funding: FL FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMM
Jul 2020 – Dec 2021
UF Marine Animal Rescue part time biologist to collect,analyze, archive and distribute scientific data regarding Florida dolphin and whale populations
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INST FOU
Dec 2018 – Mar 2020
Persistent occurrence of glyphosate in the Lake Okechobee area and effects on the immune system of manatees
Role: Other
Funding: EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
Jul 2018 – Jun 2021
Develop and Further Training in Case of Marine Mammals with Emphasis on Manatees
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: FL FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMM
Jun 2018 – Sep 2021
Volusia County Agreement for Veterinary Services with University of Florida
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: VOLUSIA COUNTY
Feb 2016 – Aug 2024
Increased Capacity for Marine Mammal Response & Analysis – University of Florida (UF)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOU
Jul 2015 – Jun 2018
Develop and Further Training in Case of Marine Mammals with Emphasis on Manatees
Role: Faculty
Funding: FL FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMM
Jul 2015 – Jun 2016
Veterinarian Internship and Services
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM
Jan 2014 – Dec 2016
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Services-Walsh
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM
May 2011 – May 2018
Volusia County Agreement for Veterinary Services with University of Florida
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: VOLUSIA COUNTY

Education

DVM
1980 · University of Missouri
BA – Biological Sciences, Pre-Veterinary
1975 · University of Missouri
BA – Biological Sciences
1973 · University of Missouri

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 294-4199
Emails:
Business:
walshm@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
2015 SW 16TH AVE
AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH PROGRAM, LACS
GAINESVILLE FL 326081166
Business Street:
UF, 7007 SEA WOROLD DR
ORLANDO FL 32821