Cutaneous conditions and injuries in Ziphius cavirostris and Mesoplodon peruvianus from Mexican Pacific and Southern California waters

Injuries and skin condition ofIndo‐Pacifichumpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in the northern South China Sea

“…Intensely cold water may compromise immune response by limiting blood flow in peripheral body areas for instance (Feltz & Fay, 1966), therefore increasing vulnerability to viral and bacterial diseases, or altering the integrity of the skin thereby leading to skin conditions (Ewing et al, 2017; Fazioli & Mintzer, 2020; Mullin et al, 2015; Wilson et al, 1999). Most diatoms that may be responsible for orange patches have also been shown to thrive in colder waters (Nemoto et al 1980), with infestations disappearing in warmer waters, resulting in a higher prevalence of orange patches in cold (Monterey Bay) than in warmer waters (Santa Monica Bay) for bottlenose dolphins in California (Bearzi et al, 2009; Maldini et al, 2010), and in Fall and Winter for Cuvier's beaked whales ( Ziphius cavirostris ) in Guadalupe (Onofre‐Diaz et al, 2022). The water temperature was not measured during all surveys, thereby preventing the inclusion of this parameter in our analysis.…”

“…Tattoo skin disease‐like lesions (TSDL) were characterized by an irregular, variably extensive gray or black stippling of the skin, sometimes with an hyperpigmented perimeter (Van Bressem et al, 2022). Hyper‐pigmented pink spots were clusters of small, dark pink punctiform spots (Onofre‐Diaz et al, 2022; Sanino et al, 2014, Toms et al, 2020). Orange patches consisted of an orange or brownish film on the surface of the skin or inside fresh scars and tooth rakes (Chan & Karczmarski, 2019; Maldini et al, 2010; Toms et al, 2020; Van Bressem et al, 2015; Yang et al, 2013; Wilson et al, 1997).…”

“…In this study, sex-related variation in prevalence was observed only with respect to orange patches; these were less common in females than males. Because male IPHDs exhibit higher densities of tooth rake marks than females (Serres et al, 2022), and because orange patches are often associated with fresh wounds including tooth rake marks (Onofre-Diaz et al, 2022), they may be more vulnerable to such skin conditions than females.…”

Observations of Hypopigmented Dolphins Sighted in Mexican and Alaskan Waters (2012-2013)

“…Piebaldism is a plausible explanation for this anomalous pattern (Miller, 2005;Fertl & Rosel, 2009), and it is the most common hypopigmentation disorder for the order Cetartiodactyla (Abreu et al, 2013). However, another possibility for this skin condition is focal skin disease (Sanino et al, 2014;Onofre-Díaz et al, 2022).…”