First report of a lacaziosis-like disease (LLD) observed in the Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia

Carol Palmer, Amanda Peterson

    Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debate

    Abstract

    A lacaziosis-like disease (LLD) was photographed on the skin of three Australian Snubfin Dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) in Darwin Harbour in 2008 and 2010, and this represents the first report of the skin disease recorded in Australia on this species of dolphin. Lacaziosis-like disease is considered non-lethal, but it could be indicative of decreasing water quality and/or exposure to potentially immunosuppressive anthropogenic or environmental pressures. Photo-identification data provides an efficient and cost-effective approach for documenting the occurrence of LLD and monitoring for the prevalence and incidence of skin lesions in a dolphin population.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3-6
    Number of pages4
    JournalNorthern Territory Naturalist
    Volume25
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

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