Observations on the Helminths of Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena Phocoena) and Common Guillemots (Uria Aalge) from the Belgian and German Coasts

Between February 1990 and July 1991, 18 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and 248 common guillemots (Uria aalge), found dead along the Belgian and German coasts, were examined for their burden of helminths. A total of three species were found in the guillemots (one cestode, one nematode and one pentastomid), and six species in the porpoises (one trematode, one cestode and four nematodes). Among the guillemots the burden of helminths was not statistically different between juvenile and adult birds. The deaths of the birds were apparently not related to the parasite infections. In contrast, the adult porpoises were more heavily parasitised than the juveniles, except for one young porpoise stranded on the Belgian coast. In the porpoises, four species of parasites had a pathological effect and Torynurus convolutus was responsible for the death of one animal from the Belgian coast and three from the German coast

Pathological investigations on guillemots (Uria aalge) stranded on the Belgian coast during the winter of 1993-94

peer reviewedPathological investigations were carried out on 67 guillemots (Uria aalge) washed up on the Belgian coast between November 1993 and March 1994. Emaciation and acute haemorrhagic gastroenteropathy were observed in more than 70 per cent of the birds. There was no statistical relationship between the level of oil contamination and the severity of the lesions. Differences in bodyweight were accounted for by age, sex, emaciation, and acute haemorrhagic gastroenteropathy. The birds had a severe weight deficit but the concentrations of pollutants were below acutely toxic levels

Lesions observed on stranded seabirds along the Belgian coast from 1992 to 1995

From 1992 to 1995, dead seabirds found on Belgian beaches were collected and various tissues of 241 birds were sampled for histopathological, bacteriological, parasitological, and toxicological investigations. The most common species examined was the guillemot (Uria aalge). Necropsies revealed cachexia (severe emaciation), acute haemorrhagic gastro-enteropathy and oil contamination in many of these birds. Statistical analyses were performed in order to explore correlations of these with biological parameters such as age, sex, and origin (pelagic or non-pelagic). The pelagic origin of seabirds were associated with the three main findings. Oil contamination was associated with acute gastro-enteropathy and cachexia, and cachexia was more prevalent among juveniles. Finally, cachexia and acute gastro-enteropathy were strongly associated. It is possible that oiled pelagic seabirds become cachectic and die of acute gastro-enteropathy. (C) 1997 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

Postmortem investigations on guillemots (Uria aalge) stranded along the Belgian coast during 4 successive winters

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North Sea seabirds and marine mammals : pathology and ecotoxicology /

Scientific support plan for a sustainable development policy (SPSD-I). Programme: Sustainable management of the North Se

Postmortem examination of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded along the coasts of Belgium and northern France from 1989 to 1999

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Pathological investigations on sperm whales stranded on Belgian and Dutch coasts

peer reviewe

Disseminated aspergillosis and candidiasis in a dog : a case report

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