title: Reported causes of death of captive killer whales (Orcinus orca).
abstract: Inquiries were made to all oceanaria that maintain killer whales in North America. Causes of death determined at necropsy included mediastinal abscesses, pyometra, pneumonia, influenza, salmonellosis, nephritis, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, fungus infection, ruptured aorta, cerebral hemorrhage and a perforated post-pyloric ulcer. Captive females appear to have a higher rate of mortality than males. Growth rates for whales that died were greater than for those that survived.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000662:veterinary; D002591:Cetacea; D002609:Chediak-Higashi Syndrome / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000662:veterinary; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000662:veterinary; D012737:Sex Factors; D014907:Whales / Q000254:growth & development