||| FROM SCIENCE ALERT |||
Scientists are concerned after a recent study found that there has been a “dramatic” increase in skin disease in an endangered North American population of orcas, and they don’t know why.
In a recent study published in PLOS ONE, researchers studied a “strong increase” in skin lesions in the population of southern resident orcas from 2004 to 2016.
The exact underlying cause of the skin disease – often in the form of gray patches and targets – is unclear, and the researchers are worried about the implications for the fragile population of orcas living on the Pacific Northwest coast.
The “possible” relationship between these lesions and the “decreasing body condition” of the endangered, non-recovering population is a concern, according to the study. The study found that 99 percent of the animals examined exhibited the skin disease.
“Before we looked at the data, we had no idea that the prevalence of these skin lesions was increasing so dramatically,” Joseph K Gaydos, lead author of the study, said in a statement. “It’s worrisome. Now we need to try and isolate the potential infectious agent.”
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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