Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the recent online publication of the following
paper:
Mazzariol S, Di Guardo G, Petrella A, Marsili L, Fossi CM, et al. (2011)
Sometimes Sperm Whales (/Physeter macrocephalus/) Cannot Find Their Way Back to
the High Seas: A Multidisciplinary Study on a Mass Stranding. PLoS ONE 6(5):
e19417. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019417
Background
Mass 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 Findings
Complete 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/Significance
A 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.
Please feel free to contact me directly for any question
([email protected]
Best regards,
Sandro
--
Dr. Sandro Mazzariol, DVM, PhD
Coordinator of the Italian Emergency Task Force for Cetacean Unusual
Strandings
Dept. of Public Health, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Hygiene
Universiy of Padova
AGRIPOLIS
Viale dell'Università, 16
35020 -- Legnaro (PD)
ITALY
tel.: +39 049 827 2963
fax: +39 049 827 2973
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