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First record of Halocercus sp. (Pseudaliidae) lungworm infections in two stranded neonatal orcas (Orcinus orca)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2018

A. Reckendorf ,
E. Ludes-Wehrmeister ,
P. Wohlsein ,
R. Tiedemann ,
U. Siebert  and
K. Lehnert
A. Reckendorf
Affiliation:
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Buesum, Germany
E. Ludes-Wehrmeister
Affiliation:
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Buesum, Germany
P. Wohlsein
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
R. Tiedemann
Affiliation:
Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
U. Siebert
Affiliation:
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Buesum, Germany
K. Lehnert*
Affiliation:
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Buesum, Germany
*
Author for correspondence: K. Lehnert, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Orca (Orcinus orca) strandings are rare and post-mortem examinations on fresh individuals are scarce. Thus, little is known about their parasitological fauna, prevalence of infections, associated pathology and the impact on their health. During post-mortem examinations of two male neonatal orcas stranded in Germany and Norway, lungworm infections were found within the bronchi of both individuals. The nematodes were identified as Halocercus sp. (Pseudaliidae), which have been described in the respiratory tract of multiple odontocete species, but not yet in orcas. The life cycle and transmission pathways of some pseudaliid nematodes are incompletely understood. Lungworm infections in neonatal cetaceans are an unusual finding and thus seem to be an indicator for direct mother-to-calf transmission (transplacental or transmammary) of Halocercus sp. nematodes in orcas.

Keywords

Cetaceansendoparasiteskiller whalelife cyclenematodesvertical transmission
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 145 , Issue 12 , October 2018 , pp. 1553 - 1557
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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