易胜博官网

Results of a necropsy performed on a dolphin that died in the Mill River in Gloucester, Mass., indicate the animal had a parasitic infection and hemorrhage in its brain, according to a pathologist with the NH Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at 易胜博官网. While there is no risk to humans from this parasite, the event underscores warnings that the public never should interact with animals in the wild that could potentially be carrying parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

鈥淪urveillance of marine mammals鈥揵oth live and dead鈥搃s important, as these animals are sentinels of the health of the marine ecosystem that we share with them. We know diseases can jump species and potentially move from wildlife into domestic animal or human populations, so it鈥檚 useful to keep tabs on what鈥檚 circulating nearby,鈥� senior veterinary pathologist Inga Sidor said.

The dolphin was submitted to the lab Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, by its听, Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue, which is the NOAA-designated and approved responder to stranded marine mammals in the 易胜博官网 and northern Massachusetts seacoast region. The dolphin, which died the day before, was an adult male common dolphin, 330 pounds and almost 8 feet long.

According to Sidor, there was no evidence of major traumatic injuries, and the animal appeared in fair condition, nutritionally. Its stomach and intestines were largely empty, suggesting it had not been well and was not eating. The necropsy revealed a small area of discoloration in the cerebellum, a part of the brain responsible for movement and coordination.

On microscopic exam, eggs of a parasitic fluke worm were associated with the hemorrhage and inflammation at that site. This non-zoonotic parasite,听Nasitrema sp., is a relatively common infection of dolphins, porpoises and whales worldwide and is often seen in this region. Migration of the adult worm and the presence of eggs results in local inflammation, which can disrupt echolocation and orientation, leading to stranding.

鈥淎s this case has shown, the public is intensely curious about these animals, and even if we are unable to save an individual animal, knowing why it died can create an educational moment. When possible and safe, it鈥檚 also a great opportunity for our students to get close to otherwise untouchable animals and learn more about how they鈥檝e evolved to survive in the marine environment, how they鈥檙e the same or different from other more familiar animals, and how their populations might be affected by human presence in the oceans,鈥� she said.

The NH Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, which is part of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, works with marine mammal rescue groups from Maine to Cape Cod. The lab helps to monitor marine mammal populations for outbreaks of infectious disease such as the 2011 seal mortality event in the Gulf of Maine and the听, a close relative of canine distemper virus.

The NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries office received reports of a free-swimming dolphin in the Mill River on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, and began monitoring its behavior. Seacoast Science Center鈥檚 Marine Mammal Rescue, which partners with NOAA and 易胜博官网 in these situations, was alerted.

鈥淲hen we first saw this dolphin, so far out of its normal habitat, we were concerned it was ill or injured. Unlike coastal bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins rarely come into shallow water. They are highly social animals usually found offshore and able to travel great distances. It鈥檚 very unusual for one to be alone and so close to shore, although these social animals will leave their groups if they are sick or injured and may seek out a quiet, calm area,鈥� said Mendy Garron, Marine Mammal Response program coordinator for NOAA鈥檚 Greater Atlantic region.

Shortly after NOAA began observing the dolphin, officials saw behaviors that indicated the animal was compromised. It stranded on the mud flat and entered what is known as death throes --when the body shuts down prior to death.

鈥淚n these situations, we try to balance what we can do for the animal with how much stress we will cause. Common dolphins are extremely sensitive to human intervention and often panic when we try to net or capture them, which can cause them further injury. Based on their experience, trained responders knew that moving this dolphin into deeper water would cause it additional stress since it was seeking shallow water. Unfortunately, this is what happened when caring, but untrained, observers dragged this dolphin into deeper water where the dolphin could not keep its head and blowhole above water. It then died,鈥� Garron said.

鈥淲atching a beautiful wild animal die is sad and painful for all of us, especially the stranding responders who have trained and devoted their careers to helping these animals. Our responders knew, and tried to explain to observers, that there was nothing they could do to help the dolphin, and the best course of action was to let the animal pass on its own. If any intervention would have helped, our responders would have stepped in, but they could tell that the kindest thing to do for this animal was to let it die peacefully,鈥� said Colleen Coogan, marine mammal/sea turtle team lead.

The NH Veterinary Diagnostic Lab serves the state of 易胜博官网 by providing accessible, timely, and accurate diagnostic services for the,,, state and local law enforcement agencies, veterinarians, farmers, and other relevant state, regional, and federal agencies. It is co-funded and co-managed by the听and the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. The lab has served the state and the university since 1970, working at the junction of animal health, public health, environmental health, and economic health.

Founded in 1887, the听at the听is 易胜博官网鈥檚 first research center and an elemental component of 易胜博官网's land-grant university heritage and mission. We steward federal and state funding, including support from the, to provide unbiased and objective research concerning diverse aspects of sustainable agriculture and foods, aquaculture, forest management, and related wildlife, natural resources, and rural community topics. We maintain the Woodman and Kingman agronomy and horticultural research farms, the Macfarlane Research Greenhouses, the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, and the Organic Dairy Research Farm. Additional properties also provide forage, forests, and woodlands in direct support to research, teaching, and outreach.

The University of 易胜博官网 is a flagship research university that inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation, and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top ranked programs in business, engineering, law, liberal arts, and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. 易胜博官网鈥檚 research portfolio includes partnerships with NASA, NOAA, NSF, NIH, and USDA, receiving more than $100 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.