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DTU – Veterinærinstituttet, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Fre-
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DTU – Veterinærinstituttet, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Fre-
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DTU – Veterinærinstituttet, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Fre-
deriksberg C, DANAK, Test Reg.: 536, Sagsnr.: 2012-52-990.
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DTU – Veterinærinstituttet, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Fre-
deriksberg C, DANAK, Test Reg.: 536, Sagsnr.: 2012-52-1049.
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DTU – Veterinærinstituttet, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Fre-
deriksberg C, DANAK, Test Reg.: 536, Sagsnr.: 2012-52-990.
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DTU – Veterinærinstituttet, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Fre-
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Summary
Two whales stranded in Denmark during the summer of
2012. Both whales were still alive at the time of the stranding.
One of the whales was a long-finned pilot whale (
Globiceph-
ala melas
), which stranded in As Vig near Juelsminde on
17 July. The other whale was a minke whale
(Balaenoptera
acutorostrata
), which stranded on 18 August at Skallingen
near Blåvandshuk. Both whales died immediately after they
stranded. Larger whales like the long-finned pilot whale and
the minke whale rarely strand alive in Denmark. The two
whale strandings gave veterinarians and biologists a unique
opportunity, not only to gain more knowledge of the biology
and anatomy of the whales, but also to become more familiar
with the causes of strandings and deaths among whales.
Stranded whales provide valuable sources of informa-
tion on age structure, sex ratio, diseases, and cause of death
among whales.
The post mortem examinations were carried out shortly
after the two whales stranded. The carcases were thus fresh
compared to the often decayed carcase we normally find
washed ashore along the coastline of Denmark. The fresh
carcases gave the veterinarians a unique opportunity to
examine a whale without being confused by necrosis of
the carcass.
Like terrestrial mammals, whales are constantly ex-
posed to lesions, infection and imbalance in their me-
tabolism. Their health is also affected by factors like age,
behaviour and environment. Whales can, for example, be
infected by parasites such as the nematode worm
Anisakis
simplex
7KH\ FDQ DOVR EH LQIHFWHG ZLWK EDFWHULD ,Q PRVW
cases the whale can resist the bacteria, but the bacterial in-
fection can quickly take over if the whale is weakened by
lesions, parasites or viral infections. Some bacteria are also
pathogens, such as the
Brucella
bacterium causing brucel-
losis. Symptoms of brucellosis can be inflammation of the
uterus and testes, abortion, pneumonia,
arthritis and menin-
gitis. Whales can also be infected by viruses. An example of
a virus that causes massive mortality among whales is the
Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). There are three types of
this virus: Porpoise Morbillivirus (PMV), Dolphin Morbil-
livirus (DMV) and Pilot whale Morbillivirus (PWMV). The
infected whales develop pneumonia, fever and meningitis.
They often develop secondary infection by fungi, bacteria
and other viruses.
Although the carcases were in good condition at the
time of the post-mortem examinations, it was difficult to de-
termine the actual cause of stranding and death – symptoms
can be unclear. Normally the cause of death and stranding is
only identified in a small number of cases.
The long-finned pilot whale probably died due to
drowning after stranding. The reason why the whale
stranded is unclear, but it could be related to the whale’s
being emaciated, having pneumonia, inflamed skin and
parasites in the
gastrointestinal tract – it was a weakened
whale in poor health.
Likewise the minke whale had parasites in the gastro-
intestinal tract, but it was also infected with flukes. The
number of parasites was probably bigger because the whale
was weakened. It was not possible to find the reason for the
emaciation and weakness which most likely contributed to
the stranding of this whale.
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