Causes of mortality in a population of marine-foraging river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Joseph K. Gaydos; Martha A. Delaney; Stephen Raverty

doi:10.7589/JWD-D-20-00031

Causes of mortality in a population of marine-foraging river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Joseph K. Gaydos, Martha A. Delaney, Stephen Raverty

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Retrospective analysis of diagnostic findings from 30 marine-foraging river otter (Lontra canadensis) carcasses opportunistically acquired between 2003 and 2013 revealed trauma as the most common cause of mortality (47%). Within this focal population, causes of trauma included vehicular, gunshot, and one case of suspect intraspecific aggression. Other causes of death included idiopathic (20%), infectious (13%), metabolic (10%), nutritional (7%), and neoplasia (3%). One case of neoplasia, a pancreatic islet cell adenoma, was identified in a 12-yrold female. In six animals, diffuse renal interstitial fibrosis and multifocal glomerulosclerosis of unknown clinical significance were noted.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	941-946
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of wildlife diseases
Volume	56
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-20-00031
State	Published - Oct 2020
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Coastal
Lontra canadensis
Marine
Mortality
Neoplasia
Renal disease
River otter
Trauma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology

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10.7589/JWD-D-20-00031

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title = "Causes of mortality in a population of marine-foraging river otters (Lontra canadensis)",

abstract = "Retrospective analysis of diagnostic findings from 30 marine-foraging river otter (Lontra canadensis) carcasses opportunistically acquired between 2003 and 2013 revealed trauma as the most common cause of mortality (47%). Within this focal population, causes of trauma included vehicular, gunshot, and one case of suspect intraspecific aggression. Other causes of death included idiopathic (20%), infectious (13%), metabolic (10%), nutritional (7%), and neoplasia (3%). One case of neoplasia, a pancreatic islet cell adenoma, was identified in a 12-yrold female. In six animals, diffuse renal interstitial fibrosis and multifocal glomerulosclerosis of unknown clinical significance were noted.",

keywords = "Coastal, Lontra canadensis, Marine, Mortality, Neoplasia, Renal disease, River otter, Trauma",

author = "Gaydos, {Joseph K.} and Delaney, {Martha A.} and Stephen Raverty",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by private dona tions to the SeaDoc Society, a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. We thank the volunteers of The Whale Museum{\textquoteright}s San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the staff at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for providing carcasses. Carcasses were collected under Washington Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collection Permits for research. Thanks to Brian Johnson and staff at University of Washington Histology Imaging Core for histology and immunohistochemistry services. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Wildlife Disease Association 2020.",

year = "2020",

month = oct,

doi = "10.7589/JWD-D-20-00031",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "56",

pages = "941--946",

journal = "Journal of Wildlife Diseases",

issn = "0090-3558",

publisher = "Wildlife Disease Association, Inc.",

number = "4",

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T1 - Causes of mortality in a population of marine-foraging river otters (Lontra canadensis)

AU - Gaydos, Joseph K.

AU - Delaney, Martha A.

AU - Raverty, Stephen

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by private dona tions to the SeaDoc Society, a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. We thank the volunteers of The Whale Museum’s San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the staff at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for providing carcasses. Carcasses were collected under Washington Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collection Permits for research. Thanks to Brian Johnson and staff at University of Washington Histology Imaging Core for histology and immunohistochemistry services. Publisher Copyright: © Wildlife Disease Association 2020.

PY - 2020/10

Y1 - 2020/10

N2 - Retrospective analysis of diagnostic findings from 30 marine-foraging river otter (Lontra canadensis) carcasses opportunistically acquired between 2003 and 2013 revealed trauma as the most common cause of mortality (47%). Within this focal population, causes of trauma included vehicular, gunshot, and one case of suspect intraspecific aggression. Other causes of death included idiopathic (20%), infectious (13%), metabolic (10%), nutritional (7%), and neoplasia (3%). One case of neoplasia, a pancreatic islet cell adenoma, was identified in a 12-yrold female. In six animals, diffuse renal interstitial fibrosis and multifocal glomerulosclerosis of unknown clinical significance were noted.

AB - Retrospective analysis of diagnostic findings from 30 marine-foraging river otter (Lontra canadensis) carcasses opportunistically acquired between 2003 and 2013 revealed trauma as the most common cause of mortality (47%). Within this focal population, causes of trauma included vehicular, gunshot, and one case of suspect intraspecific aggression. Other causes of death included idiopathic (20%), infectious (13%), metabolic (10%), nutritional (7%), and neoplasia (3%). One case of neoplasia, a pancreatic islet cell adenoma, was identified in a 12-yrold female. In six animals, diffuse renal interstitial fibrosis and multifocal glomerulosclerosis of unknown clinical significance were noted.

KW - Coastal

KW - Lontra canadensis

KW - Marine

KW - Mortality

KW - Neoplasia

KW - Renal disease

KW - River otter

KW - Trauma

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JO - Journal of Wildlife Diseases

JF - Journal of Wildlife Diseases

SN - 0090-3558

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ER -

Causes of mortality in a population of marine-foraging river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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