Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea
The Common Eider (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) inhabits the entire northern hemisphere. In northern Europe, the flyway population reaches from the southern Wadden Sea to the northern Baltic coast. The European population is classified as endangered due to declines in Common Eider numbers...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/2002 |
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| author | Luca A. Schick Peter Wohlsein Silke Rautenschlein Arne Jung Joy Ometere Boyi Gildas Glemarec Anne-Mette Kroner Stefanie A. Barth Ursula Siebert |
| author_facet | Luca A. Schick Peter Wohlsein Silke Rautenschlein Arne Jung Joy Ometere Boyi Gildas Glemarec Anne-Mette Kroner Stefanie A. Barth Ursula Siebert |
| author_sort | Luca A. Schick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Common Eider (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) inhabits the entire northern hemisphere. In northern Europe, the flyway population reaches from the southern Wadden Sea to the northern Baltic coast. The European population is classified as endangered due to declines in Common Eider numbers across Europe since 1990. In this study, we assessed 121 carcasses of Common Eiders, captured incidentally in gillnets in the Western Baltic between 2017 and 2019. The most common findings were parasitic infections of the intestine by acanthocephalans in 95 animals, which correlated with enteritis in 50% of the cases. Parasites were identified as <i>Profilicollis botulus</i> in 25 selected animals. Additionally, oesophageal pustules, erosions, and ulcerations, presumably of traumatic origin, were frequently observed. Nephritis and hepatitis were frequent, but could not be attributed to specific causes. Lung oedema, fractures and subcutaneous haemorrhages likely resulted from entangling and drowning. Two Common Eiders had mycobacterial infections and in one of these, <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> subspecies (ssp.) <i>avium</i> was identified. This study gives an overview of morphological changes and infectious diseases from one location of the European flyway population. It contributes to future health studies on Common Eiders in the Baltic and Wadden Seas by providing baseline information to compare with other areas or circumstances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:49:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18d249f56b064e5fbd6c5efa7dbaaef8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:49:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-18d249f56b064e5fbd6c5efa7dbaaef82023-11-30T22:08:00ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-08-011215200210.3390/ani12152002Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic SeaLuca A. Schick0Peter Wohlsein1Silke Rautenschlein2Arne Jung3Joy Ometere Boyi4Gildas Glemarec5Anne-Mette Kroner6Stefanie A. Barth7Ursula Siebert8Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, GermanyDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, GermanyClinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, GermanyClinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, GermanyInstitute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, GermanyNational Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, DenmarkNational Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, DenmarkFriedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, GermanyInstitute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, GermanyThe Common Eider (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) inhabits the entire northern hemisphere. In northern Europe, the flyway population reaches from the southern Wadden Sea to the northern Baltic coast. The European population is classified as endangered due to declines in Common Eider numbers across Europe since 1990. In this study, we assessed 121 carcasses of Common Eiders, captured incidentally in gillnets in the Western Baltic between 2017 and 2019. The most common findings were parasitic infections of the intestine by acanthocephalans in 95 animals, which correlated with enteritis in 50% of the cases. Parasites were identified as <i>Profilicollis botulus</i> in 25 selected animals. Additionally, oesophageal pustules, erosions, and ulcerations, presumably of traumatic origin, were frequently observed. Nephritis and hepatitis were frequent, but could not be attributed to specific causes. Lung oedema, fractures and subcutaneous haemorrhages likely resulted from entangling and drowning. Two Common Eiders had mycobacterial infections and in one of these, <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> subspecies (ssp.) <i>avium</i> was identified. This study gives an overview of morphological changes and infectious diseases from one location of the European flyway population. It contributes to future health studies on Common Eiders in the Baltic and Wadden Seas by providing baseline information to compare with other areas or circumstances.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/2002Wildfowlsea duckpathologyparasiteshealth monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Luca A. Schick Peter Wohlsein Silke Rautenschlein Arne Jung Joy Ometere Boyi Gildas Glemarec Anne-Mette Kroner Stefanie A. Barth Ursula Siebert Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea Animals Wildfowl sea duck pathology parasites health monitoring |
| title | Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea |
| title_full | Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea |
| title_fullStr | Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea |
| title_short | Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) from the Western Baltic Sea |
| title_sort | health status of bycaught common eiders i somateria mollissima i from the western baltic sea |
| topic | Wildfowl sea duck pathology parasites health monitoring |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/2002 |
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