STRANDING RESPONSE DATA

Call logs | Species | Harbor seals | Stranding map | Necropsy report

Call logs | Species | Harbor seals | Stranding map | Necropsy report

Call logs | Species | Harbor seals | Stranding map | Necropsy report

Call logs | Species | Harbor seals | Stranding map | Necropsy report

Call logs | Species | Harbor seals | Stranding map | Necropsy report

Necropsy summary report for Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network (Fiscal Year 2006) The Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network conducted necropsies on ten harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), nine harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and one gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spanning the period of June 2006 through June 2007. Stephanie Norman, DVM & Stephen Raverty, DVM, perform a necropsy on this Whidbey Island gray whale. Photos from Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network Post-morten examination and investigation, 2006-2007 (this is a PDF collection of necropsy photos w/captions - warning - "graphic photos - not for the weak of heart or stomach!" Harbor seals Sex and age composition of the harbor seals consisted of seven females and three males, and three pups, four yearlings, and three adults, respectively. Cause of death was not definitively determined in two of the animals. A presumptive diagnosis of emaciation/starvation was made in three animals (pups), trauma due to gunshot wounds in two yearlings, and an infectious etiology in the remainder. In one of the latter pups, bacterial culture of several internal organs yielded a significant heavy growth of Escherichia coli that was believed to have been a contributory factor in the loss of the animal. In a second animal, Streptococcus phocae was isolated from an aerobic culture of intestinal tract which may have lead to septicemia. Recently, this pathogen has been recovered in the Pacific Northwest from harbor seals and occasional harbor porpoises with evidence of localized abscessation or generalized sepsis (S. Raverty, unpub data). Abscessation and fasciitis of the left side of the head and neck, mostly likely secondary to a penetrating wound, and leading to a probable secondary septicemia, was documented in an adult harbor seal. Finally, an adult animal was found to have pleuropneumonia, suspected to be due to either a primary bacterial infection or secondary to some other underlying condition. Harbor porpoises In 2006 there was a marked increase in harbor porpoise strandings in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. By the end of 2006, 63 stranded harbor porpoise had been reported in the inland waters and outer coasts of Washington and Oregon, which was nearly twice the previous maximum number of annual harbor porpoise strandings for the region (34 in 2003) (NOAA Fisheries, unpub. data). After consultation with the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events, an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) was declared on 3 November 2006 to facilitate the coordination of response and investigative efforts. An additional 14 have been recorded in 2007 as of mid-July 2007, for a total of 77. The majority of strandings (78%) occurred in Washington State, with the remainder in Oregon. The unusual rate of mortality does not appear to extend into British Columbia or California. Northwest Marine Mammal Stranding Network participants responded to and examined 69 porpoises. Of these, detailed necropsies were performed on 48, 6 were frozen and are pending examination, and 13 received external examinations only (some with limited sample collection). Two porpoises stranded live and were immediately released. The overall cause of the mortality increase has not been determined and the investigation is ongoing. CPSMMSN participated in the UME investigating and conducted necropsies on several UME-related harbor porpoises. Four females and five males comprised the sex distribution, while the age class composition consisted of five calves/neonates, one yearling/juvenile, 1 subadult, and two adults. Trauma accounted for the death of four of the harbor porpoises (one of which may also have been afflicted with bronchopneumonia), infectious/inflammatory causes for three deaths, parasitic for one, and undetermined causes for the remaining two. Fetal distress-type syndrome (presence of meconium particles in lung parenchyma) was noted in a calf which may have been due to physical trauma. A second calf had traumatic lesions (multisystemic hemorrhage) that may have been incurred at the time of parturition (dystocia). A third calf displayed signs of possible trauma; however, bronchopneumonia was also documented which was severe enough to account for loss of this animal. A generalized septicemia was documented in a fourth calf. The subadult porpoise had a verminous pneumonia severe enough to have impaired respiratory function, potentially leading to the animal’s death. One of the adults had a profound bronchopneumonia that significantly impaired respiratory function. In addition, intravascular protozoa were discovered in the lung that may be suggestive of either Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, or some other apicomplexa. Cryptococcus gattii was documented in two adult females, one of which was collected and necropsied by another stranding organization and is not discussed further in this summary. The other cryptococcosis female was pregnant with a male 22cm fetus whose tissues are currently being analyzed. In addition, tissue analysis is still pending on one of the adult males. Gray whales The male yearling gray whale was necropsied in situ and showed signs of severe dehydration and emaciation, accompanied by marked, extensive pediculosis. There was severe extensive, acute hemorrhage and edema of the throat, paralumbar and inguinal musculature suggestive of primary trauma. There were presumptive bite wounds to the skin of the flukes and flippers which may have been inflicted by killer whales. Lastly, there was subcutaneous abscessation of the right axilla which may have been secondary to a deep wound.