Drones detect deadly virus in Arctic whales’ breath
Helen Briggsenvironmental reporter
Whale breath collected by drones provides clues to the health of wild humpbacks and other whales.
The scientists flew drones equipped with special kit through exhaled droplets, or “pulses,” that occur when the giants come up to breathe through their air vents.
They identified a highly contagious virus linked to mass strandings of whales and dolphins around the world.
Prof Terry Dawson, of King’s College London, said whale “strike” sampling was a “game changer” for the health and welfare of whales.
“This allows us to monitor pathogens in live whales without stress or harm and provides critical insight into diseases in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems,” he said.
The researchers used drones carrying sterile petri dishes to capture droplets from the exhaled breath of humpback, fin and sperm whales, along with skin biopsies taken from boats.
They confirmed for the first time that a potentially lethal whale virus known as cetacean morbillivirus was circulating above the Arctic Circle.
The disease is highly contagious and spreads easily among dolphins, whales, and porpoises, causing serious illness and mass mortality.
It can switch between species and cross oceans, posing a significant threat to marine mammals.
Researchers hope this breakthrough will help early detection of deadly threats to ocean life before they begin to spread.
Nord University“Going forward, the priority is to continue using these methods for long-term surveillance so we can understand how multiple emerging stressors will shape whale health in the coming decades,” said Helena Costa of Nord University in Norway.
The study, which involved King’s College London and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in the United Kingdom and Nord University in Norway, was published on: BMC Veterinary Research.
