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Resource ID
10797
Access
Open
Full Title
Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012). PlosOne 13(10): e0204444
Author
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
Abstract
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.