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Whales in San Francisco Bay

Roughly 30 gray whales have been spotted in the Bay this season, many more than is typical. Sadly, there have also been at least 14 deaths this year, which is more than in all of 2024. 

We are investigating to help determine the cause of these deaths. By gaining insights into what is causing these tragedies, we can better understand how to help prevent them.

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musk ox on snowy ground

Contagious Dermatitis as a Portal of Entry for Bacteria in Muskoxen of the Canadian Arctic

Contagious Ecthyma Dermatitis as a Portal of Entry for Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) of the Canadian Arctic
  • Infectious disease

Abstract

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was detected immunohistochemically in contagious ecthyma (orf virus) dermatitis in two muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), harvested and found dead in 2014 and 2015, respectively, on Victoria Island, Canada. This may help target further research on E. rhusiopathiae epidemiology and mechanisms of infection in muskoxen, recently associated with widespread mortalities in Canada's Arctic. 


Tomaselli, M., Ytrehus, B., Opriessnig, T., Duignan, P., Dalton, C., van der Meer, F., Kutz, S. and Checkley, S., 2022. Contagious Ecthyma Dermatitis as a Portal of Entry for Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) of the Canadian Arctic. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 58(1), pp.228-231.

infectious disease
Pádraig Duignan

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