Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012) Josué Díaz-Delgado Antonio Fernández Eva Sierra Simona Sacchini Marisa Andrada Ana Isabel Vela Óscar Quesada-Canales Yania Paz Daniele Zucca Kátia Groch Manuel Arbelo 10.1371/journal.pone.0204444 https://plos.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Pathologic_findings_and_causes_of_death_of_stranded_cetaceans_in_the_Canary_Islands_2006-2012_/7173656 <div><p>This study describes the pathologic findings and most probable causes of death (CD) of 224 cetaceans stranded along the coastline of the Canary Islands (Spain) over a 7-year period, 2006–2012. Most probable CD, grouped as pathologic categories (PCs), was identified in 208/224 (92.8%) examined animals. Within natural PCs, those associated with good nutritional status represented 70/208 (33.6%), whereas, those associated with significant loss of nutritional status represented 49/208 (23.5%). Fatal intra- and interspecific traumatic interactions were 37/208 (17.8%). Vessel collisions included 24/208 (11.5%). Neonatal/perinatal pathology involved 13/208 (6.2%). Fatal interaction with fishing activities comprised 10/208 (4.8%). Within anthropogenic PCs, foreign body-associated pathology represented 5/208 (2.4%). A CD could not be determined in 16/208 (7.7%) cases. Natural PCs were dominated by infectious and parasitic disease processes. Herein, our results suggest that between 2006 and 2012, in the Canary Islands, direct human activity appeared responsible for 19% of cetaceans deaths, while natural pathologies accounted for 81%. These results, integrating novel findings and published reports, aid in delineating baseline knowledge on cetacean pathology and may be of value to rehabilitators, caregivers, diagnosticians and future conservation policies.</p></div> 2018-10-05 17:30:27 Fatal PC 7- year period interaction Canary Islands future conservation policies cetacean pathology finding status