Biomaterial Database

Reported causes of death of captive killer whales (Orcinus orca). 1979

S H Ridgway

Inquiries were made to all oceanaria that maintain killer whales in North America. Causes of death determined at necropsy included mediastinal abscesses, pyometra, pneumonia, influenza, salmonellosis, nephritis, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, fungus infection, ruptured aorta, cerebral hemorrhage and a perforated post-pyloric ulcer. Captive females appear to have a higher rate of mortality than males. Growth rates for whales that died were greater than for those that survived.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008477	Mediastinal Diseases	Disorders of the mediastinum, general or unspecified.	Disease, Mediastinal,Diseases, Mediastinal,Mediastinal Disease
D011014	Pneumonia	Infection of the lung often accompanied by inflammation.	Experimental Lung Inflammation,Lobar Pneumonia,Lung Inflammation,Pneumonia, Lobar,Pneumonitis,Pulmonary Inflammation,Experimental Lung Inflammations,Inflammation, Experimental Lung,Inflammation, Lung,Inflammation, Pulmonary,Inflammations, Lung,Inflammations, Pulmonary,Lobar Pneumonias,Lung Inflammation, Experimental,Lung Inflammations,Lung Inflammations, Experimental,Pneumonias,Pneumonias, Lobar,Pneumonitides,Pulmonary Inflammations
D002591	Cetacea	An order of wholly aquatic MAMMALS occurring in all the OCEANS and adjoining seas of the world, as well as in certain river systems. They feed generally on FISHES, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Most are gregarious and most have a relatively long period of parental care and maturation. Included are DOLPHINS; PORPOISES; and WHALES. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, pp969-70)	Cetaceas
D002609	Chediak-Higashi Syndrome	A form of phagocyte bactericidal dysfunction characterized by unusual oculocutaneous albinism, high incidence of lymphoreticular neoplasms, and recurrent pyogenic infections. In many cell types, abnormal lysosomes are present leading to defective pigment distribution and abnormal neutrophil functions. The disease is transmitted by autosomal recessive inheritance and a similar disorder occurs in the beige mouse, the Aleutian mink, and albino Hereford cattle.	Chediak-Steinbrinck-Higashi Syndrome,Oculocutaneous Albinism with Leukocyte Defect,Chediak Higashi Syndrome,Chediak Steinbrinck Higashi Syndrome,Chediak-Steinbrinck-Higashi Syndromes
D005260	Female		Females
D000038	Abscess	Accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection.	Abscesses
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000836	Animals, Zoo	Animal population groups or individual animals that reside in captivity at a zoological park.	Animal, Zoo,Zoo Animal,Zoo Animals
D001161	Arteriosclerosis	Thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of ARTERIES of all sizes. There are many forms classified by the types of lesions and arteries involved, such as ATHEROSCLEROSIS with fatty lesions in the ARTERIAL INTIMA of medium and large muscular arteries.	Arterioscleroses