Robinson Kevin P, Haskins Gary N, Eisfeld-Pierantonio Sonja M, Sidiropoulos Theofilos, Bamford Connor C G
Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU), PO Box 11307, Banff, AB45 3WB, UK.
Dis Aquat Organ. 2020 Jul 23;140(1):103-108. doi: 10.3354/dao03498.
Photographs collected during a 23 yr photo-identification study in the Moray Firth were examined to assess the prevalence, type and severity of vertebral deformations present in bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus calves. Fifteen cases of presenting spinal anomalies (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis and combinations thereof) of variable severity were identified in 7.4% of all known calves from the population. Thirteen of the 15 anomalies were either manifest from birth or acquired from an early age, as ascertained from longitudinal sightings histories of their mothers. Most afflicted calves died during early development or shortly after maternal separation. However, 3 survived to adulthood and persist in the population to date, in addition to 2 dependent infants whose fate remains to be established. At 15+ yr of age, the oldest surviving individual was remarkably one of the most severe cases identified, highlighting the ability of these delphinids for adaptation to such gross structural deformities. The aetiology of the observed conditions could be attributed to a range of causative factors that may have implications for the well-being and health of this North Sea coastal dolphin population, a topic which merits further investigation.
对在马里湾进行的为期23年的瓶鼻海豚个体识别研究期间收集的照片进行了检查，以评估宽吻海豚幼崽椎体畸形的患病率、类型和严重程度。在该种群所有已知幼崽中，7.4%的个体被发现有15例不同严重程度的脊柱异常（脊柱侧弯、脊柱后凸、脊柱前凸及其组合）。根据其母亲的长期目击记录确定，15例异常中有13例在出生时就已显现或在幼年时就已出现。大多数患病幼崽在早期发育过程中或与母亲分离后不久死亡。然而，有3只存活至成年并一直生活在该种群中，此外还有2只依赖母亲的幼崽，其命运尚待确定。在15岁以上时，存活时间最长的个体是已发现的最严重病例之一，这突出了这些海豚适应如此严重结构畸形的能力。观察到的这些情况的病因可能归因于一系列致病因素，这些因素可能会影响北海沿岸海豚种群的健康和福祉，这一话题值得进一步研究。
