Capture‐induced stress cardiomyopathy in South American fur seal pups (Arctophoca australis gracilis)

Abstract

Capture and restraint of marine mammals is necessary for translocation, biological sample collection, population dynamic studies, health status assessment, and rescue procedures after stranding. However, depending on capture and restraint methods, mild to moderate stress on the animals should be expected during these procedures. Capture and restraint can have transient deleterious effects on marine mammal physiology that in the long term are not considered significant for the individual or the population (Harcourt et al. 2010).However, capture-related deaths caused by stress have been described in some marine mammals. Capture myopathy, a syndrome associated with the stress of handling, has been described as contributory cause of death in stranded dolphins (Herr aez et al. 2013), and stress-related cardiomyopathies are suspected to be a cause of poor recovery rate in stranded cetaceans (Cowan and Curry 2008).In pinnipeds, reports of capture, handling, or stress-associated mortalities or lesions are rare. Spraker and Lander (2010) describe hyperthermia as a cause of death in northern fur seals associated with the gathering of large groups of animals during subsistence harvests in Alaska. Animals that were hyperthermic for <3 h showed no lesions except for pulmonary edema and congestion. Other than the former report, no additional description of lesions in response to stress in free ranging 1 Corresponding author (mseguel@uga.edu).

Response to capture stress involves multiple corticosteroids and is associated with serum thyroid hormone concentrations in Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi)

“…In extreme cases, acute exposure to capture stress in South American fur seals has been documented to cause cardiomyopathy or even death (Seguel et al . ). Understanding how these animals respond to stressors and its implication for other health systems is a crucial step towards management and conservation efforts.…”

“…It has been shown that exposure to anthropogenic stress can cause changes in susceptibility to infectious disease and high energetic costs (Brock et al 2013). In extreme cases, acute exposure to capture stress in South American fur seals has been documented to cause cardiomyopathy or even death (Seguel et al 2014). Understanding how these animals respond to stressors and its implication for other health systems is a crucial step towards management and conservation efforts.…”

Blood, sweat and tears: a review of non-invasive DNA sampling

“…Indeed, capture and/or handling of individuals to obtain DNA samples (e.g. saliva swabbing) can induce long-lasting stress effects [55,56], and there are very few cases where capturing an animal might have no effects on its future behaviour. Therefore, when animals must be held captive, transported or restrained in order to perform DNA sampling, the method cannot meet the definition of non-invasive DNA sampling sensu stricto [6].…”

Increased Plasma Cardiac Troponin I in Live-Stranded Cetaceans: Correlation with Pathological Findings of Acute Cardiac Injury

“…event 2,8,[10][11][12][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] . There are no previous studies regarding biochemical cardiac markers that indicate damage to the heart of marine mammals (more specifically in cetaceans).…”

“…The histology that defines CM consists of ischemia-reperfusion injuries consistent with local to generalised vasospasm and vasodilation (catecholamines, neurogenic shock, and impeded venous flow return from body compression, causing hypoxia in different organs), direct traumatic injury to the muscle resulting in acute to subacute degeneration (rhabdomyolysis), acute renal failure associated with myoglobinuric nephrosis, and areas of necrosis in viscera [9][10][11][13][14][15][33][34][35] .…”