LONG-TERM RECORDING OF GASTRIC-ULCERS IN CETACEANS STRANDED ON THE GALICIAN (NW SPAIN) COAST

Long-term (1990-1996) results of recording gastric ulcers in the commo n dolphin are presented for the NW Spanish Atlantic coast. The occurre nce and abundance of cetacean carcasses (belonging to 10 species) with gastric ulcers are also given and discussed. Ulcerations were detecte d in 17.2% of the animals examined, with 15% for common dolphins and 0 to 29.4 % in other cetacean species. A positive relation was noted be tween ulcer counts and length and maturity of Delphinus delphis. Clust ers of the nematode Anisakis simplex could be seen embedded in the gas tric ulcers of 3 common dolphins. It could be concluded that gastric u lcers are non-fatal lesions in cetaceans stranded in NW Spain.