This web application uses cookies and other tracking technologies to ensure you get the best experience.
This web application uses cookies and other tracking technologies to ensure you get the best experience.
10797
Open
Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012). PlosOne 13(10): e0204444
Antonio Fernandez, Josue Dıaz-Delgado,Eva Sierra , Simona Sacchini , Marisa Andrada , Ana Isabel Vela, Oscar Quesada-Canales , Yania Paz , Daniele Zucca , Katia Groch , Manuel Arbelo
This study describes the pathologic findings and most probable causes of death (CD) of 224
cetaceans stranded along the coastline of the Canary Islands (Spain) over a 7-year period,
2006–2012. Most probable CD, grouped as pathologic categories (PCs), was identified in
208/224 (92.8%) examined animals. Within natural PCs, those associated with good nutritional status represented 70/208 (33.6%), whereas, those associated with significant loss of
nutritional status represented 49/208 (23.5%). Fatal intra- and interspecific traumatic interactions were 37/208 (17.8%). Vessel collisions included 24/208 (11.5%). Neonatal/perinatal
pathology involved 13/208 (6.2%). Fatal interaction with fishing activities comprised 10/208
(4.8%). Within anthropogenic PCs, foreign body-associated pathology represented 5/208
(2.4%). A CD could not be determined in 16/208 (7.7%) cases. Natural PCs were dominated
by infectious and parasitic disease processes. Herein, our results suggest that between
2006 and 2012, in the Canary Islands, direct human activity appeared responsible for 19%
of cetaceans deaths, while natural pathologies accounted for 81%. These results, integrating novel findings and published reports, aid in delineating baseline knowledge on cetacean
pathology and may be of value to rehabilitators, caregivers, diagnosticians and future conservation policies.