18Jan 2018

FATAL BACTERIAL INFECTION OF THE HEART INCAPTIVE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS GILLI).A CASE STUDY.

  • Black Sea Flora and Fauna Research Center, Batumi, Georgia.
  • RustaveliBatumi StateUniversity, Batumi, Georgia.
  • G.EliavaInstitute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, Tbilisi, Georgia.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
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The adult dolphin?s illness and death can be due to different reasons, including diseases of infectious etiology such as septicemia, bacterial pneumonia,meningitis, myocarditis, peritonitis, enteritis etc. A number of bacteria, primarlyStaphylococcus aureus, have been associated with morbidity and mortality in different populations of marine mammals. In this paper we describe the case of the fatal illness of adult Pacific Bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatusgilli) nicknamed "Kako", inhabitant of the Batumi Dolphinarium in Georgia. The macroscopic examination of different organs of the dead animal along with hystopathological findings allowed to categorize the death of the dolphin ?Kako? as ofinfectious origin, in particular, as an infection of multiple organs with a purulent infection of the heart (bacterial myocarditis) as a leading organ. Bacteriological investigation of necropsy material yielded in the growth of bacteria(S. aureus, S. xylosus, E. coli), capable of causing inflammatory-purulent processes in internal organs of the animal. Dolphin?s behavior during up to 5 months observational period was adequate without any signs of disease while bacteriology of exhaled air samples showed extensive bacterial growth. The majority of blood parameters remained within normal range but high WBC counts and neutrophylosis, and the ESR was increased significantly only at the final stage of illness.

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[T. Tserodze, D. Jgenti, M. Mgeladze, N. Chkheidze, R. Lomidze, I. Gambashidze, N. Janelidze, E. Didebulidze, A. Groene, M. Kik and M. Tediashvili. (2018); FATAL BACTERIAL INFECTION OF THE HEART INCAPTIVE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS GILLI).A CASE STUDY. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 6 (Jan). 795-804] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Tariel Tserodze
Manager of Marine Mammals Center of Batumi Dolphinarium

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/6285      
DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/6285

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