Causes of death in marine mammals stranded along the Oregon coast.
Sixty-eight marine mammals stranded on the Oregon beaches were examined at necropsy. Gunshot was the primary cause of death in 30% of the pinnipeds examined. Bacterial infections (27%) and parasitism (27%) were also of major importance in the death and debilitation of Oregon marine mammals. Traumatic death or debilitation other than gunshot was observed in 11 animals (16%). Predation, starvation due to neonatal abandonment, viral encephalitis (presumptive diagnosis), dystocia and neoplasia were diagnosed as primary or contributory causes of stranding.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D010872:Caniformia; D002591:Cetacea; D004289:Dolphins; D004420:Dystocia / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D009922:Oregon; D011247:Pregnancy; D046048:Seals, Earless; D014907:Whales; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary