title: Vertebral column deformities in white-beaked dolphins from the eastern North Atlantic.
abstract: Five white-beaked dolphins Lagenorhynchus albirostris with outwardly vertebral kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis or lordosis were identified during a photo-identification survey of over 400 individuals (2002-2013) in Faxaflói and Skjálfandi Bays, Iceland. In addition, 3 stranding reports from Denmark, The Netherlands and the UK were analysed, providing both external observation and post mortem details of axial deviations of the vertebral column in this species. Two of the free-ranging cases and 2 of the stranded specimens appeared to have an acquired disease, either as a direct result of trauma, or indirectly from trauma/wound and subsequent infection and bony proliferation, although we were unable to specifically identify the causes. Our data represent a starting point to understand vertebral column deformations and their implications in white-beaked dolphins from the eastern North Atlantic. We recommend for future necropsy cases to conduct macro- and microscopic evaluation of muscle from both sides of the deformed region, in order to assess chronic or acute conditions related to the vertebral deformations and cause of death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Chiara G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bertulli
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galatius
authors.forename: Carl C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kinze
authors.forename: Marianne H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deaville
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jepson
authors.forename: Elisabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Vedder
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez Contreras
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sabin
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D004289:Dolphins; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary