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Gas-bubble lesions in stranded cetaceans

Nature volume 425, pages 575–576 (2003)Cite this article

Was sonar responsible for a spate of whale deaths after an Atlantic military exercise?

Abstract

There are spatial and temporal links between some mass strandings of cetaceans — predominantly beaked whales — and the deployment of military sonar1,2,3. Here we present evidence of acute and chronic tissue damage in stranded cetaceans that results from the formation in vivo of gas bubbles, challenging the view that these mammals do not suffer decompression sickness. The incidence of such cases during a naval sonar exercise indicates that acoustic factors could be important in the aetiology of bubble-related disease and may call for further environmental regulation of such activity.

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Figure 1: Gas-filled cavities in the liver of a stranded common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK

    P. D. Jepson, R. Deaville, A. M. Pocknell, A. A. Cunningham & A. Fernández

  2. Histology and Pathology Unit, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary School, Montana Cardones-Arucas, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain

    M. Arbelo, P. Castro, E. Degollada, P. Herráez, F. Rodríguez, A. Espinosa, J. R. Jaber & V. Martin

  3. SAC Veterinary Science Division (Inverness), Wildlife Unit, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZ, UK

    I. A. P. Patterson, H. M. Ross & R. J. Reid

  4. Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Neston, Leahurst, CH64 7TE, Wirral, UK

    J. R. Baker

  5. SAC Veterinary Science Division (Edinburgh), Allan Watt Building, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QE, Edinburgh, UK

    F. E. Howie

Authors
  1. P. D. Jepson
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  2. M. Arbelo
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  7. E. Degollada
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  8. H. M. Ross
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  9. P. Herráez
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  10. A. M. Pocknell
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  13. A. Espinosa
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  16. V. Martin
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  17. A. A. Cunningham
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  18. A. Fernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Fernández.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Jepson, P., Arbelo, M., Deaville, R. et al. Gas-bubble lesions in stranded cetaceans. Nature 425, 575–576 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/425575a

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