| On November 18, 1994, four sperm whales were discovered dead on the Belgian coast, and on January 12, 1995, three live sperm whales stranded on the Dutch coast. Necropsies were conducted following a standardized procedure and samples were collected. Two Belgian sperm whales had a severe weight deficit and the Dutch sperm whales had reductions in blubber thickness. Agonal lesions such as visceral passive congestion and lung edema were due to the stranding. Significant lesions included acute ulcerations of the skin and acute to subacute ulcerative stomatitis. Severe diffuse subacute to chronic ulcerative external otitis was noted in four animals. Progressive weakness and/or potential alterations of echolocation might have predisposed these sperm whales to... |
