Dear MARMAMers, We are delighted to announce the publication of the following article in Veterinary Record: Stress cardiomyopathy in stranded cetaceans: a histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study Nakita Câmara1, Eva Sierra1, Carolina Fernández-Maldonado2, Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros1, Manuel Arbelo1, Antonio Fernández1 and Pedro Herráez1 1. Departamento de Histología y Patología Animal, Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal y Seguridad Alimentaria (IUSA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Facultad de Veterinaria, Arucas, Spain 2. Seashore Environment and Fauna, Cádiz, Spain DOI: 10.1136/vr.105562<http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.105562> Abstract Background Free-living cetaceans are exposed to a wide variety of stressful situations, including live stranding and interaction with human beings (capture myopathy), vessel strikes, and fishing activities (bycatch), which affect their wellbeing and potentially lead to stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP). Methods Here, the authors aimed to characterise SCMP of stranded cetaceans as an injury resulting from extreme stress responses, based on pathological analyses (histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical). Specifically, the authors examined heart samples from 67 cetaceans found ashore (48 live strandings, seven dead from ship collision and 12 dead from bycatch) on the coast of Spain, more specifically in the Canary Islands from 2000 to 2016 and Andalusia from 2011 to 2014. Results The microscopic findings were characterised by vascular changes, acute or subacute cardiac degenerative necrotic lesions, interstitial myoglobin globules, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemically, cardiac troponin I, cardiac troponin C and myoglobin were depleted, along with fibrinogen being expressed in the degenerated/necrotic cardiomyocytes. A perivascular pattern was also identified and described in the damaged cardiomyocytes. Conclusions This study advances current knowledge about the pathologies of cetaceans and their implications on conserving this group of animals by reducing mortality and enhancing their treatment and subsequent rehabilitation to the marine environment. The paper is available online at http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/vr.105562 or you can contact me for a pdf version or for any questions at kita_camara@hotmail.com or nakita.camara101@alu.ulpgc.es Best regards, Nakita Câmara Nakita Câmara DVM, PhD Student Centro Atlántico de Investigación de Cetáceos, Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal y Seguridad Alimentaria (IUSA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Campus Universitario Cardones de Arucas, Trasmontaña s/n 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España Telephone: +34 928 45 97 16 Mobile: +34 611 05 00 08 Email: nakita.camara101@alu.ulpgc.es