Dugong pneumonia
Dugong pneumonia is a lung infection affecting this marine herbivorous mammal, a relative of the manatee. It is usually caused by bacteria, sometimes aggravated by parasites or opportunistic fungi. This disease is particularly serious in du...
What is it?
Dugong pneumonia is a lung infection affecting this marine herbivorous mammal, a relative of the manatee. It is usually caused by bacteria, sometimes aggravated by parasites or opportunistic fungi. This disease is particularly serious in dugongs because they are mammals that must regularly surface to breathe: any lung damage directly threatens survival. It is documented mainly in stranded, injured, or weakened animals brought to marine wildlife care centres.
Key point
Pneumonia is a life-threatening emergency in dugongs because this animal must be able to surface to breathe; any severe lung damage quickly endangers its life.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
An affected dugong shows breathing that has become difficult or faster than normal. The animal may stay abnormally long at the water's surface, as if seeking to breathe more easily, or conversely struggle to dive normally due to air or fluid accumulated in the lungs.
General lethargy, loss of appetite, and progressive weight loss are often observed if the illness persists. Abnormal breathing sounds, coughing, or discharge from the nostrils may also be noted during close observation of the animal, for example at a care centre.
A sick dugong may also swim erratically, float abnormally, or appear distressed at the surface—signs that should immediately alert people in contact with the animal.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
Dugong pneumonia usually results from opportunistic bacterial infection, which takes advantage of the animal's weakened state to develop in the respiratory tract. Lung parasites or fungi may also be responsible, alone or together with bacteria. Accidental inhalation of water, for example during trauma (collision with a vessel) or a near-drowning incident, can also trigger lung inflammation that favors infection.
Dugongs at highest risk are those already weakened by injury or trauma (boat collision, accidental entanglement in fishing nets), significant stress from stranding, or malnutrition linked to degradation of the seagrass beds on which they feed. Young animals separated from their mother and elderly individuals are also more vulnerable. Water pollution and degradation of the marine environment are considered indirect contributing factors.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
Diagnosis is established by a veterinarian specializing in marine wildlife, usually within a rescue centre following stranding. It is based on clinical observation of breathing and swimming behaviour, auscultation when possible, and supplementary tests such as blood samples, respiratory secretion analysis, or medical imaging if the animal can be safely handled.
Treatment
Management involves antibiotics suited to the suspected or confirmed bacterial infection, combined if necessary with antiparasitic or antifungal agents depending on the identified cause. General supportive care of the animal (hydration, appropriate nutritional intake, stress reduction) is an integral part of management in a specialized rescue centre.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Prevention primarily relies on protecting the dugong's natural habitat: preserving seagrass beds, reducing pollution of coastal waters, and limiting maritime traffic in areas where the species is found. For animals brought to a rescue centre following stranding, close veterinary monitoring and prompt management of injuries help reduce the risk of secondary respiratory tract infection.
Possible complications
Without treatment, pneumonia can progress to severe respiratory distress, septicaemia (generalized infection), or the animal's death, particularly if its ability to surface and breathe is compromised. In an animal already weakened by stranding, lung infection significantly worsens the overall prognosis.
When to see a veterinarian
A dugong observed in obvious respiratory distress at sea or during stranding.\nAn animal remaining abnormally long at the surface or appearing unable to dive normally.\nA dugong brought to a rescue centre showing decreased appetite, lethargy, or cough.\nAny observation of disorderly swimming or abnormal floating in a dugong.
Prognosis
The prognosis depends heavily on how quickly treatment is begun and the animal's overall condition at the time of diagnosis. It remains guarded in animals that are already severely weakened or have associated injuries, but can be more favourable if the infection is detected and treated early at a specialized care facility.
Frequently asked questions
Is pneumonia common in dugongs?
It is mainly documented in stranded or weakened animals taken in by marine wildlife rehabilitation centers, and remains rare in the wild in healthy animals.
Can you treat pneumonia in a wild dugong?
Management requires a team specialized in marine wildlife, usually after stranding; there is no possible treatment at sea without professional intervention.
Can this disease be transmitted to humans?
No, dugong pneumonia is not considered a transmissible disease to humans.
What to do if you find a dugong in distress?
You must immediately contact the competent local authorities or a marine wildlife rescue center without attempting to handle the animal yourself.
References
WOAH — Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (ex-OIE)
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 24 August 2026
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