Levels of blood haptoglobin (Hp) and interleukin-6 immunoreactive protein (IL-6 ir) were significantly elevated in river otters (Lutra canadensis) inhabiting oiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA) following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. By May and June 1992, however, such differences were not apparent. Mean body mass of otters, adjusted for sex, age-class, and total length with analysis of covariance, differed between oiled and non-oiled areas from 1990 to 1992, but were nearly identical by May and June 1992. We propose that river otters may be recovering from chronic effects that we observed in 1990 and 1991 following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, but further research is necessary to test this hypothesis.
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1 July 1994
Evidence for Recovery of Body Mass and Haptoglobin Values of River Otters Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Lawrence K. Duffy,
R. Terry Bowyer,
J. Ward Testa,
James B. Faro
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 30 • No. 3
July 1994
Vol. 30 • No. 3
July 1994
Alaska
body mass
Exxon Valdez
Haptoglobin
hydrocarbons
interleukin-6
Lutra canadensis