title: Myocardial contraction band necrosis in stranded cetaceans.
abstract: The term contraction band necrosis describes focal hypercontraction and lysis of small groups of myocardial cells. Contraction band necrosis of the myocardium was identified in 100% of 52 whales and dolphins (cetaceans) stranded along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico between April 1991 and November 1996. The myocardial lesions in the cetaceans were identical, both grossly and histologically, to those previously described in man and other animals. Such lesions may contribute to the high mortality rate in stranded cetaceans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston 77555, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000662:veterinary; D002591:Cetacea; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate