Mass deaths of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in Europe
Since April 1988, an epizootic disease raged among harbor seals in Europe. The disease began on Anholt in central Kattegat, but quickly spread to almost all seal herds in Europe. So far, almost 18 000 seals have died from the disease. The cause is most likely a virus belonging to the morbilli group;...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1989
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/mass-deaths-of-harbor-seals-phoca-vitulina-in-europe(270ca80b-7e58-4589-b8f8-019d7dbeda98).html http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0024912187&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
| Summary: | Since April 1988, an epizootic disease raged among harbor seals in Europe. The disease began on Anholt in central Kattegat, but quickly spread to almost all seal herds in Europe. So far, almost 18 000 seals have died from the disease. The cause is most likely a virus belonging to the morbilli group; but the dispersal and triggering mechanisms behind the infection remain obscure. Highest mortality was found in areas where the disease was introduced during the summer when seals congregate on land for reproduction and molt. Seal herds infected during the autumn were less affected by the disease. The role of environmental factors in the course and development of the disease, such as weather conditions or pollution, remains unclear. -from Authors |
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