Post Mortem Findings of Cetaceans Stranded Along the Campania Coast from 2016 to 2022

The presence of cetaceans along the Campania coast has always been documented. Between 2016 and 2022, out of 65 cetaceans stranded along the Campania coast, 46 were studied for bacteriological, virological, parasitological, and histopathological investigations. The results highlighted that for 59% (n = 27) of the specimens, the cause of death was of natural origin, while for only 2% (n = 1) of animals, the origin of death was ascribed to anthropic causes. Unfortunately, for 39% (n = 18) of the cetaceans, it was impossible to determine the cause of death. All the cetaceans that died of natural causes showed viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. The primary pathogens detected were Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV, 65.2%, n = 30/46), Toxoplasma gondii (10.9%, n = 5/46), and Brucella ceti (8.7%, n = 4/46). The animals showed typical lesions of the isolated pathogens, such as systemic infection, meningoencephalitis, and pneumonia. Moreover, even with a lower frequency, other relevant pathogens like Photobacterium damselae, Salmonella enteritidis, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and Chlamydia abortus were isolated. These data were useful to understand the spread and circulation of these pathogens, some zoonotic, in the coastal marine waters of the Campania region.