Journal of Comparative Pathology publica este artículo de investigación

1 de enero de 2015

Introduction: A histopathological study was carried out on 11 cetaceans stranded on the southeastern Spanish Mediterranean coast between 2011 and 2014. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the surveillance of the health status of the free-ranging cetacean population.

Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed tissue samples were submitted for examination to the Pathology Service of the Complutense University Veterinary Hospital from eight striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), two Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and one Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris).

Results: Mortality was due to trauma in 46% of the animals, infectious disease in 36% and was of unknown cause in 18% of the cases. The most frequent findings were chronic interstitial nephritis (55%), granulomatous pneumonia with intralesional metastrongyles (54%), lymphoid depletion (45%), meningoencephalitis (27%), chronic active hepatitis (18%) and granulomatous colitis with intralesional cestodes (18%). Incidental findings were an adrenal vascular hamartoma, a granulomatous lymphadenitis and orchitis. Viral pneumonia and/or meningoencephalitis consistent with dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) infection were noted in one of the striped dolphins. Two striped dolphins had mild chronic encephalitis suggestive of a prior or subclinical viral infection.

Conclusions: Infectious disease of some sort was found in all of the animals and not necessarily related to cause of death. Mortality was mainly due to trauma, followed by infectious disease (e.g. septicaemia, viral infection). Generalized lymphoid depletion, suggestive of immune compromise, may favour certain infections. Similar studies in other parts of the Mediterranean have hypothesized an association between lymphoid depletion and environmental contaminants. Other possible causes remain to be elucidated

Jimenez MA., Rubio-Guerri C., Melero M., Crespo JL., Gallardo F., Garcia D. y Sanchez-Vizcaino JM..

Histopathological findings in cetaceans stranded on the spanish mediterranean coast between 2011 and 2014

	Servicio de Inmunología Viral y Medicina Preventiva (SUAT). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Oceanogràfic. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. Generalitat Valenciana.