A pathologist at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, Josué Díaz-Delgado, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVP, contributed to scientific findings from a 20-year investigation of 45 whales found along the coastlines of the Canary Islands, Spain. The study adds a substantial body of pathological data for species within the family Kogiidae.
The investigation of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales revealed that trauma, parasitic disease, and heart abnormalities are among the most common health problems affecting these elusive marine mammals. Researchers also documented deaths linked to vessel strikes, fishing gear interactions, and plastic ingestion, highlighting both natural and human-related threats.
Because these whales inhabit deep offshore waters and are rarely observed alive, scientists rely heavily on necropsy examinations of stranded individuals to gain insight into their health and the factors contributing to their deaths.
To learn more about these discoveries, read the full article titled Pathology and Cause of Death in Stranded Kogiids: A Retrospective Study from the Canary Islands (1999–2018).
For more information on TVMDL’s testing options, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu or call the College Station laboratory at 1.888.646.5623.
