Dolphin Diseases

Question 1

What is the leading cause of cancerous tumors in dolphins/marine mammals

Answer 1

Pollution

Question 2

True or False: dolphins won’t avoid oil spills and swim through them

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is a primary cause of immunosuppression and
reproductive failure in dolphins

Answer 3

PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
Used in electronic equipment such as transformers and fluorescent light fixtures and building materials

Question 4

How does sound affect the ocean in a negative way

Answer 4

Sounds from underwater oil drills, boat motors, military sonar, etc., cause social and migratory problems, including decompression sickness in marine mammals

Question 5

True or False: All cases of decompression sickness in marine mammals have been linked to navy sonar

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What is Morbillivirus

Answer 6

3 strains - porpoise, dolphin, pilot whale. Related to human measles. Targets brain and lungs primarily
Leads to lymphoid depletion
Immunosuppression

Question 7

How do dolphin tears help humans

Answer 7

Helps to treat: Dry eye and
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Question 8

What is Horizontal Keratopathy

Answer 8

most common corneal lesion that causes dust like calcium deposits and corneal degeneration

Question 9

Why is supplementation important when feeding captive dolphins

Answer 9

The enzyme Thiaminase is broken down when feeding frozen fish

Question 10

What is Histamine Toxicosis

Answer 10

The dolphins acquire it by a large amount of histidine found in the flesh of the fish (Bacteria grow this on the flesh of the fish)