Spinal deformity in a sandtiger shark (Carcharias Taurus): a clinical-pathological study.

Spinal deformities are not uncommon in captive sandtiger sharks but to date the cause of this condition remains unsettled. The present study investigated spinal deformity in a captive sandtiger shark to describe the clinical and histopathological features of the lesion and to check the usefulness of the diagnostic protocol. Clinically, the shark presented a marked spinal curvature in the region between the pectoral girdle and cranial dorsal fin. Radiographic studies disclosed scoliosis and kyphosis of the vertebral column with a modification of the basic structure of five vertebrae. Post mortem examination confirmed the results of radiographic studies and histological examination showed remodelling and cartilaginous proliferation of the vertebral bodies together with necrosis, haemorrhage and signs of a local chronic inflammatory response extending to the surrounding muscle. Different etiologies are proposed and discussed but nutritional imbalance (dietary vitamin deficiency) and/or traumatic injury are considered the most likely contributing factors in our case.