Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in a neonate Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei): clinical approach and laboratory findings

Authors

  • Marzia Antonelli Associação R3 Animal
  • Mateus Rocha Ribas 2Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular Aplicada (MiMA), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Rafael Meurer Associação R3 Animal
  • Sandro Sandri Associação R3 Animal
  • Jussara Kasuko Palmeiro Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular Aplicada (MiMA), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Thaís Cristine Marques Sincero 2Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular Aplicada (MiMA), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Cristiane Kiyomi Miyaji Kolesnikovas Associação R3 Animal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5597/lajam00338

Abstract

A neonate (4,2 kg and 71 cm total body length) female Franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, was found stranded alive on a beach in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, with respiratory signs (dyspnea, crackles during thoracic auscultation and changes in buoyancy) suggestive of pneumonia. Hand-rearing and rehabilitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the neonate died three days after it was rescued. Postmortem investigation was conducted using diagnostic imaging techniques, such as endoscopy and computed tomography. A complete necropsy and histopathology were performed, revealing bronchopneumonia as well as neutrophilic and discrete otitis media. A pure Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture was obtained from the blowhole, bronchoalveolar lavage, and blood using the API NE System. Our results indicate the cause of death to be related to bacterial sepsis. Further understanding of the main causes of death of Franciscana dolphin calves is warranted for conserving this threatened and understudied species.

Keywords: bacterial septicemia, cetacean, otitis, pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, rehabilitation, stranding event

Downloads

Published

2024-11-27

How to Cite

Antonelli, M., Rocha Ribas, M., Meurer, R. ., Sandri, S., Kasuko Palmeiro, J. ., Cristine Marques Sincero, T. ., & Kiyomi Miyaji Kolesnikovas, C. . (2024). Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in a neonate Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei): clinical approach and laboratory findings. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 19(2), 211-218. https://doi.org/10.5597/lajam00338

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).