Once again we have sadly seen a large number of weaned common seal pups suffering with a condition called ‘mouth rot’- a disease that results in severe lesions in the mouth and can ultimately result in the death of the pup. It is both a concern for animal welfare and for conservation.
BDMLR is part of a now 5-year long study working to explore the possible cause of this condition working alongside a team at the Teesside University, with support from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, and funded by the government body Defra.
Here are some of our key findings so far:
· Most cases are reported between July and September, with a peak in August
· Case reports are widely distributed (from Cornwall to Scotland!), but are mostly on the east coast of England, and Norfolk/the south-east consistently has the highest number of case reports
· Just over a third of cases identified are at an earlier stage of the disease process and are admitted for rehabilitation, with around half going on to make a full recovery
· The other two thirds are at a more advanced and severe stage of the disease- and euthanasia is sadly the kindest option for many of these pups to prevent further suffering
· Work in the lab has so far identified a number of viral and bacterial species that may be causing the condition- at present we suspect that mouth rot is the result of a complex, combined viral and bacterial infection, with multiple pathogens involved
Questions about the project can be sent to our email address: mouthrotproject@bdmlr.org.uk
As always, we want to thank our hard-working partners and supporters for their vital assistance, including BDMLR Medics, veterinary personnel, and rehabilitation centre staff. This work would not be possible without you!