Journal article

Publication year: 2001

Pages: 102-114

Journal: Journal of Comparative Pathology

Volume number: 124

Issue number: 2-3

ISSN: 0021-9975

eISSN: 1532-3129

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1053/jcpa.2000.0436

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Between 1991 and 1996, necropsies were performed on 445 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), in various states of preservation, stranded on German coasts or accidentally caught by German fishermen. The animals originated from the North and Baltic Seas, and 133 were considered suitable for histopathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological examination. Most of thr lesions in these 133 porpoises were caused by parasites, in particular in the respiratory tract, two-thirds of the animals exhibiting pneumonia associated with the parasites. Pneumonia was considered to be the cause of death in 46% of the stranded subadult and adult animals. The findings gave no evidence of any epidemic due to bacterial or viral infection. Bacteriological examination suggested that pneumonia was mainly caused by secondary bacterial infection and not by parasitic infestation alone. Beta-haemolytic streptococci were considered to be the main infectious agents. Morbillivirus antigen was not detected immunohistochemically. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Harvard Citation style: Siebert, U., Wünschmann, A., Weiss, R., Frank, H., Benke, H. and Frese, K. (2001) Post-mortem findings in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the German North and Baltic Seas, Journal of Comparative Pathology, 124(2-3), pp. 102-114. https://doi.org/10.1053/jcpa.2000.0436

APA Citation style: Siebert, U., Wünschmann, A., Weiss, R., Frank, H., Benke, H., & Frese, K. (2001). Post-mortem findings in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the German North and Baltic Seas. Journal of Comparative Pathology. 124(2-3), 102-114. https://doi.org/10.1053/jcpa.2000.0436