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Post-mortem research on porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Dutch waters, 2022. Biological data, health status and causes of death. This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of beached harbour porpoises in 2022. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2022, 57 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 31 males and 26 females, comprising 18 adults, 27 juveniles and 12 neonates. In addition two male foetuses were examined. Most of the examined harbour porpoises died as a result of infectious diseases (40.4%) and grey seal attacks (24.6%). Bycatch was the most likely cause of death for six porpoises (10.5%) and seven other porpoises died following trauma of unclear origin (12.3%). In dit jaarrapport worden de resultaten gepresenteerd van pathologisch onderzoek aan gestrande bruinvissen in 2022. Eén van de hoofddoelen van het onderzoek is het kwantificeren van sterfte van bruinvissen door menselijk toedoen. In 2022 zijn 57 dode bruinvissen onderzocht: 31 mannelijke en 26 vrouwelijke, waarvan 18 volwassen, 27 juveniel en 12 neonaat. Er werden daarnaast twee mannelijke foetussen aangetroffen, onderzocht en bemonsterd. De meeste van de onderzochte bruinvissen stierven door infectieziekten (40,4%) en grijzezeehondaanvallen (24,6%). Bijvangst was de meest waarschijnlijke doodsoorzaak van zes bruinvissen (10,5%). Zeven andere bruinvissen stierven als gevolg van trauma door onduidelijke oorsprong (12,3%).

The application of whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in veterinary and wildlife post-mortem research programs is advancing. A high incidence of pulmonary pathology is reported in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). In this study, the value of PMCT focused on pulmonary assessment is evaluated. The objectives of this study were to describe pulmonary changes as well as autolytic features detected by PMCT examination and to compare those findings with conventional necropsy. Retrospective evaluation of whole-body PMCT images of 46 relatively fresh harbor porpoises and corresponding conventional necropsy reports was carried out, with a special focus on the respiratory tract. Common pulmonary PMCT findings included: moderate (24/46) to severe (19/46) increased pulmonary soft tissue attenuation, severe parasite burden (17/46), bronchial wall thickening (30/46), and mild autolysis (26/46). Compared to conventional necropsy, PMCT more frequently identified pneumothorax (5/46 vs. none), tracheal content (26/46 vs. 7/46), and macroscopic pulmonary mineralization (23/46 vs. 11/46), and provided more information of the distribution of pulmonary changes. These results indicate that PMCT adds information on pulmonary assessment and is a promising complementary technique for necropsy, despite the frequent presence of mild autolytic features.

This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of stranded harbour porpoises in 2021. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2021, 54 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 35 males and 19 females, comprising 24 adults, 23 juveniles and 7 neonates. In addition three foetuses found, examined and sampled. Most of the examined harbour porpoises died as a result of infectious diseases (39%) and grey seal attacks (20%). Bycatch was the most likely cause of death of 7 porpoises (13%) and 5 other porpoises died following trauma of unclear origin (9%). In dit jaarrapport worden de resultaten gepresenteerd van pathologisch onderzoek aan gestrande bruinvissen in 2021. Eén van de hoofddoelen van het onderzoek is het kwantificeren van sterfte van bruinvissen door menselijk toedoen. In 2021 zijn 54 dode bruinvissen onderzocht: 35 mannelijke en 19 vrouwelijke, waarvan 24 volwassen, 23 juveniel en 7 neonaten. Er werden daarnaast 3 foetussen gevonden, onderzocht en bemonsterd. De meeste van de onderzochte bruinvissen waren gestorven door infectieziekten (39%) en grijzezeehondaanvallen (20%). Bijvangst was de meest waarschijnlijke doodsoorzaak van 7 bruinvissen (13%). 5 andere bruinvissen stierven als gevolg van trauma door onduidelijke oorsprong (9%).

This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of porpoises in 2019. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2019, 57 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 31 males and 26 females, 22 adults, 24 juveniles and 11 neonates. There were an additional six foetuses found. Most of the examined harbour porpoises died as a result of infectious diseases (30%) and grey seal attacks (21%), followed by bycatch (11%). In dit jaarrapport worden de resultaten gepresenteerd van pathologisch onderzoek aan bruinvissen in 2019. Eén van de hoofddoelen van het onderzoek is het kwantificeren van sterfte van bruinvissen door menselijk toedoen. In 2019 zijn 57 dode bruinvissen onderzocht; 31 mannelijke en 26 vrouwelijke, 22 volwassen, 24 juveniel en 11 neonaat. Er werden daarnaast 6 foetussen gevonden. De meeste van de onderzochte bruinvissen waren gestorven door infectieziekten (30%) en grijze zeehond aanvallen (21%), gevolgd door bijvangst (11%).