The mysterious injuries of dolphins in California
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
In The Heights Or Billy Elliot
A bottlenose dolphin ('Tursiops truncatus') with lesions on their skin. just published a study on the possible causes of this disease, which affects
and 90% of the population of bottlenose dolphins
California ('Tursiops truncatus'), also known as bottle-nosed dolphins.
Scientists several hypotheses:
injuries could have a viral origin although it is likely to be caused by polluted water
in which they live: "We are studying the possibility of contaminants such as pesticides and metals heavy in the sea are
weakening the immune system of dolphins, making them vulnerable to infection, "says Daniela Maldini, an oceanographer and lead author of this research.
Sometimes lesions appear as spots. during the two years of the study.
Of the 42 young dolphins photographed, 71% were affected by one or multiple skin conditions. For the adult, the percentage was 90% (on a sample of 147 animals). Scientists do not believe that it is a fatal disease
yet little is known about the long term. As pointed out by Maldini,
usually recover quickly but in most cases the injuries are recurrent and appear several times throughout their lives. In addition, because they are wild animals, it is not possible
to treat them. California is not the only place that cetaceans suffer this type of injury.
Scientists have observed similar wounds in various oceans
the world but have not yet been determined whether they relate to the cases reported in the U.S.. source: elmundo.es
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