Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events
The Atlantic puffin (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) is a seabird species characterized by great diving capabilities and transoceanic migratory behavior. These movements contribute to the dispersion of the species during migration, and episodes of mortality associated with migration may be a...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Cristian M. Suárez-Santana Lucía Marrero-Ponce Óscar Quesada-Canales Ana Colom-Rivero Román Pino-Vera Miguel A. Cabrera-Pérez Jordi Miquel Ayose Melián-Melián Pilar Foronda Candela Rivero-Herrera Lucía Caballero-Hernández Alicia Velázquez-Wallraf Antonio Fernandez |
| author_facet | Cristian M. Suárez-Santana Lucía Marrero-Ponce Óscar Quesada-Canales Ana Colom-Rivero Román Pino-Vera Miguel A. Cabrera-Pérez Jordi Miquel Ayose Melián-Melián Pilar Foronda Candela Rivero-Herrera Lucía Caballero-Hernández Alicia Velázquez-Wallraf Antonio Fernandez |
| author_sort | Cristian M. Suárez-Santana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Atlantic puffin (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) is a seabird species characterized by great diving capabilities and transoceanic migratory behavior. These movements contribute to the dispersion of the species during migration, and episodes of mortality associated with migration may be a normal event in the dynamic of the Atlantic puffin populations. This study aimed to describe the anatomopathological findings of an unusual mortality event of Atlantic puffins observed during the non-breeding period along the coast of the Canary Islands. The most consistent gross finding during necropsy was generalized muscle atrophy and fat depletion. The main histological findings were centered in the urinary tract, with dilation and inflammation of the primary ureter branch and medullary cones, and intraluminal trematodes identified as <i>Renicola sloanei</i> based on morphology and molecular analysis. Influenza virus infection was ruled out. The postmortem investigations performed in this mortality event of Atlantic puffins indicate that the animals were severely emaciated and suffered from nephropathy. The etiopathological investigation performed in relation to this mortality event of Atlantic puffins indicates starvation associated with bad weather conditions during migratory movement as the most likely cause of the unusual mortality event. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3366cef933db4b218eab63feda90b0ca |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-3366cef933db4b218eab63feda90b0ca2025-08-20T02:58:43ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01159128110.3390/ani15091281Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather EventsCristian M. Suárez-Santana0Lucía Marrero-Ponce1Óscar Quesada-Canales2Ana Colom-Rivero3Román Pino-Vera4Miguel A. Cabrera-Pérez5Jordi Miquel6Ayose Melián-Melián7Pilar Foronda8Candela Rivero-Herrera9Lucía Caballero-Hernández10Alicia Velázquez-Wallraf11Antonio Fernandez12Unit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainDepartamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, sn, 38203 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainServicio de Biodiversidad, Dirección General de Lucha Contra el Cambio Climático y Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de Canarias, Cl. Profesor Agustín Millares Carló, 18. 5ª Planta, Edificio Servicios Múltiples II, 35071 Las Palmas, Canary Islands, SpainDepartamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, sn, 38203 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainGestión y Planeamiento Territorial y Medioambiental, S.A. (GESPLAN), Canary Islands Government, C/León y Castillo 54, Bajo, 35003 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainDepartamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, sn, 38203 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainUnit of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, SpainThe Atlantic puffin (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) is a seabird species characterized by great diving capabilities and transoceanic migratory behavior. These movements contribute to the dispersion of the species during migration, and episodes of mortality associated with migration may be a normal event in the dynamic of the Atlantic puffin populations. This study aimed to describe the anatomopathological findings of an unusual mortality event of Atlantic puffins observed during the non-breeding period along the coast of the Canary Islands. The most consistent gross finding during necropsy was generalized muscle atrophy and fat depletion. The main histological findings were centered in the urinary tract, with dilation and inflammation of the primary ureter branch and medullary cones, and intraluminal trematodes identified as <i>Renicola sloanei</i> based on morphology and molecular analysis. Influenza virus infection was ruled out. The postmortem investigations performed in this mortality event of Atlantic puffins indicate that the animals were severely emaciated and suffered from nephropathy. The etiopathological investigation performed in relation to this mortality event of Atlantic puffins indicates starvation associated with bad weather conditions during migratory movement as the most likely cause of the unusual mortality event.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1281Atlantic puffin<i>Fratercula arctica</i><i>Renicola sloanei</i>mass mortalitystarvationnephropathy |
| spellingShingle | Cristian M. Suárez-Santana Lucía Marrero-Ponce Óscar Quesada-Canales Ana Colom-Rivero Román Pino-Vera Miguel A. Cabrera-Pérez Jordi Miquel Ayose Melián-Melián Pilar Foronda Candela Rivero-Herrera Lucía Caballero-Hernández Alicia Velázquez-Wallraf Antonio Fernandez Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events Animals Atlantic puffin <i>Fratercula arctica</i> <i>Renicola sloanei</i> mass mortality starvation nephropathy |
| title | Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events |
| title_full | Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events |
| title_fullStr | Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events |
| title_short | Unusual Mass Mortality of Atlantic Puffins (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>) in the Canary Islands Associated with Adverse Weather Events |
| title_sort | unusual mass mortality of atlantic puffins i fratercula arctica i in the canary islands associated with adverse weather events |
| topic | Atlantic puffin <i>Fratercula arctica</i> <i>Renicola sloanei</i> mass mortality starvation nephropathy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1281 |
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