TY - JOUR
T1 - Prey, parasites and pathology associated with the mortality of a juvenile gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) stranded along the northern California coast
AU - Dailey, M. D.
AU - Gulland, F. M D
AU - Lowenstine, Linda J
AU - Silvagni, P.
AU - Howard, D.
PY - 2000/8/31
Y1 - 2000/8/31
N2 - An eastern Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) stranded off Pelican Point, Tomales Bay, California, USA, was examined for physiological parameters, prey, parasites and associated pathology. The whale was emaciated, and hematological examination revealed an elevation in hematocrit, serum sodium, potassium, electrolyte values and hypoglycemia. Parasites recovered included 5 species, 1 ectoparasite (Cyamus scammoni), and 4 helminths (Anisakis simplex, Ogmogaster antarcticus, Ogmogaster pentalineatus, Bolbosoma balanae) with the latter causing multifocal transmural abscesses. Histological examination indicated severe acute lung congestion, minimall multifocal, lymphocytic, interstitial myocarditis, and mild hepatocellular and Kupffer cell hemosiderosis. The prey taxa present in the stomach indicated the whale was feeding on hard bottom communities prior to death.
AB - An eastern Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) stranded off Pelican Point, Tomales Bay, California, USA, was examined for physiological parameters, prey, parasites and associated pathology. The whale was emaciated, and hematological examination revealed an elevation in hematocrit, serum sodium, potassium, electrolyte values and hypoglycemia. Parasites recovered included 5 species, 1 ectoparasite (Cyamus scammoni), and 4 helminths (Anisakis simplex, Ogmogaster antarcticus, Ogmogaster pentalineatus, Bolbosoma balanae) with the latter causing multifocal transmural abscesses. Histological examination indicated severe acute lung congestion, minimall multifocal, lymphocytic, interstitial myocarditis, and mild hepatocellular and Kupffer cell hemosiderosis. The prey taxa present in the stomach indicated the whale was feeding on hard bottom communities prior to death.
KW - Cetacean stranding
KW - Eschrichtius robustus
KW - Hematology
KW - Pacific gray whale
KW - Parasites
KW - Pathology
KW - Prey species
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034739035&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034739035&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 11023250
AN - SCOPUS:0034739035
VL - 42
SP - 111
EP - 117
JO - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
JF - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
SN - 0177-5103
IS - 2
ER -