313
In addition to brucellosis and parasites, viruses can be an important cause of
cetacean strandings. Among the most important viruses is the cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) considered as the most pathogenic virus in these animals (Bellière et al.
2011).The reason for this is that CeMV may trigger high mortality events of cetaceans characterized by pneumonia, nonsuppurative meningo-encephalitis and
prominent lymphoid cell depletion (Domingo et al. 1992). Strandings caused by
CeMV were particularly dramatic between 1990 and 1992 in the Western
Mediterranean cetacean species (mainly striped dolphins) and in the east coast of
United States from 2010 to 2016 (Colegrove et al. 2016). In Costa Rica CeMV has
not been detected yet.
In Panama, regular documentation of cetacean stranding initiated in 2009. In the
Panamanian Pacific coast the most common species known to strand are the humpback whale, bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, and sperm whale.
Other species that have stranded include the dwarf sperm whale, false-killer whale,
Bryde’s whale, striped dolphins and rough-tooted dolphins. Strandings of dwarf
sperm whales were associated to parasite infections in kidneys by Crassicauda
anthonyi and stomach parasites by Anisakis, and in the muscle by Diphilobrotium.
In 2016, a mass stranding of rough-tooted dolphins of 60 animals occurred in the
Península of Azuero. The cause is suspected to be zoonotic diseases but not lab
analysis were made to confirm it, however, parasite of the genus Anisakis where
found in their stomach. In the Caribbean coast of Panama, the most common
stranded species is the bottlenose dolphin, due primarily to collisions with dolphinwatching boats (Trejos-Lasso and May-Collado 2015). A sperm whale stranded on
the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal also died due to boat collision (TrejosLasso unpublished data).
In recent years, Panamanian scientists have received training courses including
one organized by the International Whaling Commission. About 40 people has been
trained to assist in cetacean stranding and rescue events. Gear and tools have been
donated to attend also whales trapped in fishing nets with the support of the National
Coast Guard of Panama, and a protocols are being develop to create a national network that can respond to individual and mass strandings.
12.4 Conservation Threats and Concerns
Conservation efforts to protect cetaceans in Costa Rica and Panama have grown in
the past 10 years largely due to increasing economic value of these animals in touristic activities, which consequently prompted the creation of guidelines to protect
them. In addition, a number of non-profit organizations have developed workshops
and training opportunities for tour operators and coastal communities, encouraging
compliance to conduct guidelines. However, in situ regulation remains scarce resulting in the ‘overuse’ of some populations as is the case of the bottlenose dolphins of
Bocas del Toro.
12 Ecology and Conservation of Cetaceans of Costa Rica and Panama
In addition to brucellosis and parasites, viruses can be an important cause of
cetacean strandings. Among the most important viruses is the cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) considered as the most pathogenic virus in these animals (Bellière et al.
2011).The reason for this is that CeMV may trigger high mortality events of cetaceans characterized by pneumonia, nonsuppurative meningo-encephalitis and
prominent lymphoid cell depletion (Domingo et al. 1992). Strandings caused by
CeMV were particularly dramatic between 1990 and 1992 in the Western
Mediterranean cetacean species (mainly striped dolphins) and in the east coast of
United States from 2010 to 2016 (Colegrove et al. 2016). In Costa Rica CeMV has
not been detected yet.
In Panama, regular documentation of cetacean stranding initiated in 2009. In the
Panamanian Pacific coast the most common species known to strand are the humpback whale, bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, and sperm whale.
Other species that have stranded include the dwarf sperm whale, false-killer whale,
Bryde’s whale, striped dolphins and rough-tooted dolphins. Strandings of dwarf
sperm whales were associated to parasite infections in kidneys by Crassicauda
anthonyi and stomach parasites by Anisakis, and in the muscle by Diphilobrotium.
In 2016, a mass stranding of rough-tooted dolphins of 60 animals occurred in the
Península of Azuero. The cause is suspected to be zoonotic diseases but not lab
analysis were made to confirm it, however, parasite of the genus Anisakis where
found in their stomach. In the Caribbean coast of Panama, the most common
stranded species is the bottlenose dolphin, due primarily to collisions with dolphinwatching boats (Trejos-Lasso and May-Collado 2015). A sperm whale stranded on
the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal also died due to boat collision (TrejosLasso unpublished data).
In recent years, Panamanian scientists have received training courses including
one organized by the International Whaling Commission. About 40 people has been
trained to assist in cetacean stranding and rescue events. Gear and tools have been
donated to attend also whales trapped in fishing nets with the support of the National
Coast Guard of Panama, and a protocols are being develop to create a national network that can respond to individual and mass strandings.
12.4 Conservation Threats and Concerns
Conservation efforts to protect cetaceans in Costa Rica and Panama have grown in
the past 10 years largely due to increasing economic value of these animals in touristic activities, which consequently prompted the creation of guidelines to protect
them. In addition, a number of non-profit organizations have developed workshops
and training opportunities for tour operators and coastal communities, encouraging
compliance to conduct guidelines. However, in situ regulation remains scarce resulting in the ‘overuse’ of some populations as is the case of the bottlenose dolphins of
Bocas del Toro.
12 Ecology and Conservation of Cetaceans of Costa Rica and Panama