Dear MARMAM Colleagues,
We are happy to announce our latest open access publication in Frontiers in
Veterinary Science: “Retrospective Study of Traumatic Intra-Interspecific
Interactions in Stranded Cetaceans, Canary Islands”
Puig-Lozano R, Fernández A, Saavedra P, Tejedor M, Sierra E, De la Fuente J,
Xuriach A, Díaz-Delgado J, Rivero MA, Andrada M, Bernaldo de Quirós Y and
Arbelo M.
Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research,
University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA),
Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria,
Canary Islands, Spain
Abstract:
Aggressive encounters involving cetacean species are widely described in the
literature. However, detailed pathological studies regarding lesions produced
by these encounters are scarce. From January 2000 to December 2017, 540
cetaceans stranded and were necropsied in the Canary Islands, Spain. Of them,
24 cases of eight species presented social traumatic lesions produced by
cetaceans of the same or different species. All the cases presented severe
multifocal vascular changes, 50% (12/24) presented fractures affecting mainly
the thoracic region, 41.7% (10/24) acute tooth-rake marks, 37.5% (9/24)
undigested food in the stomach, 33.3% (8/24) tracheal edema, and 12.5% (3/24)
pulmonary perforation. In 10 cases with tooth-rake marks, the distance between
the teeth, allowed us to further identify the aggressor species: four cases
were compatible with killer whales (Orcinus orca) affecting three species
[pigmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius
cavirostris), and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)] and
four cases compatible with common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
affecting two species [short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and
Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)]. We also described two cases of
intraspecific interaction in stripped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba).
Microscopically, 70.8% (17/24) of the cases presented acute degenerative
myonecrosis, 66.7% (14/21) presented vacuoles in the myocardiocytes, 36.8%
(7/19) pigmentary tubulonephrosis, 31.6% (6/19) cytoplasmic eosinophilic
globules within hepatocytes, 21.4% (3/14) hemorrhages in the adrenal gland, and
17.3% (4/23) bronchiolar sphincter contraction. The statistical analysis
revealed that deep divers, in good body condition and nearby La Gomera and
Tenerife were more prone to these fatal interactions. Additionally, in this
period, three animals died due to an accident during predation: a false killer
whale (Pseudorca crassidens) died because of a fatal attempt of predation on a
stingray, and two Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) died as a consequence of
struggling while predating on large squids.
Link to full text:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00107/full
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00107
Sincerely,
Raquel Puig Lozano
PhD student,
Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research,
University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA),
Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria,
Canary Islands, Spain
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