Congenital defects and herpesvirus infection in beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas calves from the Critically Endangered Cook Inlet population

Details

• Journal Title:
  Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
• Personal Author:
  Burek-Huntington, KA ; Shelden, KEW ; Guilfoyle, C ; Thewissen, JGM ; Migura, M ; Armien, AG ; Romero, CH
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; AFSC (Alaska Fisheries Science Center)
• Description:
  Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBs) Delphinapterus leucas are Critically Endangered and genetically distinct from other beluga populations in Alaska. CIBs are exposed to numerous natural and anthropogenic sources of mortality and morbidity. This study describes congenital defects observed in 2 CIB calves. The first case, an aborted fetus, was characterized by lack of a peduncle and flukes, anorectal and genitourinary dysgenesis, and probable biliary dysplasia. The second case, a male calf, had a perineal groove defect and suspected secondary peritonitis; it also had a systemic herpesvirus infection. Further studies are needed to determine if such defects are due to genetic mutation, infectious diseases, nutritional imbalances, or contaminant exposure.
• Keywords:
  Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior And Systematics Ecology, Evolution, Behavior And Systematics Ecology, Evolution, Behavior And Systematics
• Source:
  Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 151, 29-35
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03690
• ISSN:
  0177-5103 ; 1616-1580
• Format:
  PDF
• Publisher:
  Inter-Research Science Center
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  Grant no. NA12NMF4390162
• License:
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Rights Information:
  CC BY
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:8c22632e246f9e65b184cb9fe09242f2b48627c923dbc23507c852b3a557d059
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/49316/noaa_49316_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.55 MB ]