Histopathological findings for tissues collected from common bottlenose dolphins stranded in Barataria Bay, Louisiana from 2016-05-07 to 2017-05-14

Histopathology was performed on 15 necropsy cases from stranded common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from 2016 - 2017. Age class ranged from perinate (114cm length) to adult (257cm length) with 6 males and 9 females included. Cause of death was established in 8/15 cases with the remaining 7 cases unable to be determined primarily due to autolysis. Brucella PCR was performed on 14/15 cases and was found to be positive on 4 cases. Causes of death included trauma, severe pneumonia, renal and vascular amyloidosis fetal distress and emaciation. Additional pathological findings included moderate endocardiosis, moderate endocardiosis and moderate lung worm. These findings aim to improve understanding of the causes of high mortality in the Barataria Bay dolphin population and to provide additional information on the potential chronic effects of oil exposure following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.