INTRODUCTION: Stranded cetaceans offer a unique opportunity for collecting data on the health status of dolphin and whale populations living in the open sea. We report herein the post-mortem findings observed in 7 Odontocetes found stranded between 2001 and 2004 on the Italian coastline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and one unidentified delphinid were investigated. During post-mortem examination, their tissues were formalin-fixed and subsequently processed for histopathology. Suitable histochemical techniques were applied on some specimens, with selected tissue sections being also submitted to immunohistochemistry for Morbillivirus and Papillomavirus antigen detection. RESULTS: Pneumonia was the most commonly encountered lesion, especially Halocercus delphini-associated bronchopneumonia. Additional findings were nephritis, hepatitis and Pholeter gastrophilus-associated gastritis. Granulomatous meningoencephalitis by Cladosporium spp. was observed in a female bottlenose dolphin, while papilloma-like lesions were observed on the rostrum of another female bottlenose dolphin, with no Papillomavirus antigen being detected. Immunohistochemistry yielded no evidence of Morbillivirus infection in any of the investigated cetaceans. CONCLUSIONS: In agreement with other Authors, pneumonia was a very frequent disease condition also in the cetaceans included in this study, in which mycotic meningoencephalitis by Cladosporium spp. may be regarded as a remarkable pathological finding.

Post-mortem findings in cetacean stranded on the Italian coastline

BENAZZI, CINZIA;
2005

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Stranded cetaceans offer a unique opportunity for collecting data on the health status of dolphin and whale populations living in the open sea. We report herein the post-mortem findings observed in 7 Odontocetes found stranded between 2001 and 2004 on the Italian coastline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and one unidentified delphinid were investigated. During post-mortem examination, their tissues were formalin-fixed and subsequently processed for histopathology. Suitable histochemical techniques were applied on some specimens, with selected tissue sections being also submitted to immunohistochemistry for Morbillivirus and Papillomavirus antigen detection. RESULTS: Pneumonia was the most commonly encountered lesion, especially Halocercus delphini-associated bronchopneumonia. Additional findings were nephritis, hepatitis and Pholeter gastrophilus-associated gastritis. Granulomatous meningoencephalitis by Cladosporium spp. was observed in a female bottlenose dolphin, while papilloma-like lesions were observed on the rostrum of another female bottlenose dolphin, with no Papillomavirus antigen being detected. Immunohistochemistry yielded no evidence of Morbillivirus infection in any of the investigated cetaceans. CONCLUSIONS: In agreement with other Authors, pneumonia was a very frequent disease condition also in the cetaceans included in this study, in which mycotic meningoencephalitis by Cladosporium spp. may be regarded as a remarkable pathological finding.
2005
Proceedings of 23rd Meeting of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology
62
62
Di Guardo G.; Marruchella G.; Della Salda L.; Benazzi C.; Marsilio F.; Zucca P.; Fichtel L.; Garcia Hartmann M.; Marà M.; Bongiovanni L.; Iorio R.; Perugini M.; Ligios C.; Kennedy S.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/11152
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