Dataset Information

Dolphin Morbillivirus Associated with a Mass Stranding of Sperm Whales, Italy.

ABSTRACT: In September 2014, seven sperm whales were stranded along Italy's Adriatic coastline. Postmortem investigations on 3 female adult whales and 1 male fetus carried by the largest female revealed molecular and immunohistochemical evidence of dolphin morbillivirus infection. A possible role of the virus in the stranding event was considered.

SUBMITTER: Mazzariol S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5176224 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dolphin Morbillivirus Associated with a Mass Stranding of Sperm Whales, Italy.

Mazzariol Sandro S Centelleghe Cinzia C Di Provvido Andrea A Di Renzo Ludovica L Cardeti Giusy G Cersini Antonella A Fichi Gianluca G Petrella Antonio A Di Francesco Cristina Esmeralda CE Mignone Walter W Casalone Cristina C Di Guardo Giovanni G

Emerging infectious diseases 20170101 1

In September 2014, seven sperm whales were stranded along Italy's Adriatic coastline. Postmortem investigations on 3 female adult whales and 1 male fetus carried by the largest female revealed molecular and immunohistochemical evidence of dolphin morbillivirus infection. A possible role of the virus in the stranding event was considered. ...[more]

PMID: 27983493

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Project description:BackgroundMass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) remain peculiar and rather unexplained events, which rarely occur in the Mediterranean Sea. Solar cycles and related changes in the geomagnetic field, variations in water temperature and weather conditions, coast geographical features and human activities have been proposed as possible causes. In December 2009, a pod of seven male sperm whales stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. This is the sixth instance from 1555 in this basin.Methodology/principal findingsComplete necropsies were performed on three whales whose bodies were in good condition, carrying out on sampled tissues histopathology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and screening of veins looking for gas emboli. Furthermore, samples for age determination, genetic studies, gastric content evaluation, stable isotopes and toxicology were taken from all the seven specimens. The animals were part of the same group and determined by genetic and photo-identification to be part of the Mediterranean population. Causes of death did not include biological agents, or the "gas and fat embolic syndrome", associated with direct sonar exposure. Environmental pollutant tissue concentrations were relatively high, in particular organochlorinated xenobiotics. Gastric content and morphologic tissue examinations showed a prolonged starvation, which likely caused, at its turn, the mobilization of lipophilic contaminants from the adipose tissue. Chemical compounds subsequently entered the blood circulation and may have impaired immune and nervous functions.Conclusions/significanceA multi-factorial cause underlying this sperm whales' mass stranding is proposed herein based upon the results of postmortem investigations as well as of the detailed analyses of the geographical and historical background. The seven sperm whales took the same "wrong way" into the Adriatic Sea, a potentially dangerous trap for Mediterranean sperm whales. Seismic surveys should be also regarded as potential co-factors, even if no evidence of direct impact has been detected.

Dataset Information

Dolphin Morbillivirus Associated with a Mass Stranding of Sperm Whales, Italy.

Publications

Dolphin Morbillivirus Associated with a Mass Stranding of Sperm Whales, Italy.

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