Preliminary necropsy findings on a humpback whale calf that died off an East Honolulu beach indicate the mammal may have been battling some sort of respiratory infection, according to one of the scientists at Hawaii Pacific University involved in the examination.
A team of biologists and students at HPU, as well as veterinarians from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, performed a necropsy Tuesday. The male humpback whale died at about 8:40 p.m. Monday in waters off Kawaikui Beach Park near Aina Haina.
Based on the size and healing of the umbilical region, the whale — 2,600 pounds and just under 15 feet long — was about 2 weeks to a month old, according to Kristi West, an associate biology professor who directs the university’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program, which works closely with NOAA.
West said they found enlarged lymph nodes in the whale’s lungs, a sign that it possibly had an infection. The left lung also looked slightly abnormal. Samples will be sent to mainland laboratories for further testing to determine if the mammal had a specific bacteria or virus.
Meanwhile, scientists at HPU and NOAA will continue testing to find out whether the calf was battling one of two different types of diseases, brucellosis and morbillivirus, both known to affect young whales and dolphins.
Brucellosis is a disease that is genetically associated with reproductive failure, premature births or young calves born sick, according to West. A different strain of the disease also affects livestock.
Morbillivirus is related to the measles virus. West and a team of scientists discovered the presence and exposure of the virus on a stranded Longman’s beaked whale on Maui in 2010.
In an October 2012 news release, West said it was the first time morbillivirus was found in a marine mammal from the central Pacific. The virus has been linked to cetacean deaths in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
Since then, necropsies performed on marine mammal strandings in Hawaii include screenings for morbillivirus.
West said it will take several months before an exact cause of the calf’s death is determined. She noted that they did not see any signs of injuries caused by a fishing net or boat strike.
The mammal got stuck in shallow waters off the beach park Monday afternoon and was partially tangled in a net.
