Common Seal Mouth Rot Update

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


You can find out more about the common seal mouth rot project, including how to get involved and our sampling protocols by clicking here.


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!