Causes of mortality and non-fatal conditions among grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) found dead on the coasts of England, Wales and the Isle of Man.
A survey of the diseases detectable in 141 grey seals stranded on the coasts of England and Wales away from breeding colonies was carried out between mid-1989 and early 1997. The most common fatal conditions in pups less than three weeks of age were trauma (24 per cent of deaths) and dystocia (12 per cent); in pups more than three weeks of age thy were starvation (22 per cent) and pneumonia (22 per cent); in juveniles they were drowning in fishing gear (30 per cent) and starvation (19 per cent), and in adults a variety of respiratory diseases were the most common causes of death (45 per cent). Many other diseases, both fatal and non-fatal, were recorded.
Department of Pathology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral.
J R
JR
Baker
P D
PD
Jepson
V R
VR
Simpson
T
T
Kuiken
D000818:Animals; D002423:Cause of Death; D004421:Dystonia / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D046048:Seals, Earless; D013217:Starvation / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary