Pathology and causes of death in stranded humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from Brazil

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194872
• Publication Date: 2018-05-16T17:27:21Z
• Authors: Kátia Regina Groch; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Milton C. C. Marc...; Adriana Castaldo ...; Elitieri B. Santo...; Vítor Luz Carvalho; Gisele Silva Boos; Ana Carolina Oliv...; Hernani Gomes da ...; Juliana Plácido G...; João Carlos Gomes...; Jociery Einhardt ...; Judy A. St. Leger; Antonio Fernández; José Luiz Catão-Dias
• Keywords: Emaciation

This study describes the pathologic findings of 24 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) found stranded along Brazilian coast from 2004 to 2016. Eighteen (75%) animals evaluated were alive. From these, 13 died naturally on shore and five euthanized. Six at sea washed ashore. Of 24, 19 (79.2%) calves, four (16.7%) juveniles, one (4.2%) was an adult. The most probable cause stranding and/or death (CSD) determined in 23/24 (95.8%) individuals. In CSD included neonatal respiratory distress (13/19; 68.4%), infectious disease (septicemia, omphaloarteritis urachocystitis; 3/19; 15.8%), trauma unknown origin (2/19; 10.5%), vehicular (vessel strike; 1/19; 5.3%). juveniles adult individuals, was: emaciation (2/5; 40%), sunlight-thermal burn shock (1/5; 20%); discospondylitis 20%). juvenile, undetermined integrates novel published case reports delineate pathology a South-western Atlantic population whales. foundation will aid assessment health establish baseline for development conservation policies.