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COMPLETE RESULTS REPORT


Case#: 15-1831
Marine Mammal Stranding Center
3625 Brigantine Blvd
Brigiantine, NJ 08203
Referring Submitter: Marine Mammal Stranding Center

MMSC-15-117
Species: Dolphin
Breed:
Age:
Sex: Male

Bill To: Marine Mammal Stranding Center


3625 Brigantine Blvd
Brigiantine NJ 08203

Owner: Marine Mammal Stranding C

Date Received: 08/10/15

Date Reported: 10/22/15

Comments
Case summary:
The most significant lesions in this older male bottlenose dolphin
were in the brain. A lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis affected
large areas of the meningeal connective tissue even affecting the
choroid plexus. Molecular testing of brain was negative via PCR for
Cetacean morbillivirus in fresh tissue and Brucella sp. in paraffin
embedded tissue. These tests can be negatively affected by sampling
site variation and decreased DNA yield in paraffin embedded tissue.
It is my opinion based on the microscopic lesions observed, that the
changes in the brain were due to a combined infection with both
Cetacean morbillivirus and Brucella sp., especially since this
dolphin tested positive for both of these infectious agents in other
organs. Fresh lung tested positive for Cetacean morbillivirus and
paraffin embedded testis tested positive for Brucella sp.
Additional significant findings included the lesions in the
forestomach, lung, and testicles. There were rare small mucosal
ulcerations in the forestomach that appeared to be healing. Small
abscesses were identified after serial sectioning of the lung and
testicular parenchyma. Microscopically, the lungworms were not
involved in the lung lesions and were considered incidental.
Brucella sp. was isolated from abscessed testicle and was likely
also the cause of the lung abscesses. Angiomatosis was also
identified within the lung and one thoracic lymph node and is a
common finding in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Pulmonary
angiomatosis can be extensive and has been speculated to cause
impaired lung compliance, ventilation, and gas exchange. It was not
clear whether the degree of dense fibrosis cause by the condition
would have led to some degree of reduction in respiratory capacity
in this dolphin.
There was also some question whether this was a costal or offshore
bottlenose dolphin. The criteria outlined in the publication by
Mead and Potter from the Smithsonian Institution used to
differentiate these two populations was based on differences in the
shape of the bones surrounding the nares (pterygoid and palatines)
Case No: 15-1831

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and bony lesions caused by the invasion of Crassicauda. Dissection


of these head regions is typically not performed and was
unfortunately not done on this dolphin.
The skin had occasional areas of hyperplasia and mild inflammation
that were consistent with normal scaring associated with raking.
Several sections were examined microscopically, and there was no
suspicion of an infectious etiology.
Overall, this older male bottlenose dolphin was in extremely poor
body condition with no visible thoracic and abdominal adipose
stores, and the gastrointestinal tract was completely empty except
for small amounts of mucus. These findings indicate an extremely
long duration (presumptively months) of decreased caloric intake, if
not anorexia. The lesions within the brain were extensive and very
chronic in some areas. These lesions were the likely cause of the
erratic swimming and other neurologic deficits noted clinically and
also probably made it difficult for the dolphin to catch fish. The
mild wear observed on most teeth would not have impaired
mastication.
Pathology Section
Test: Gross Pathology
Verified by: Dr. Angelique Leone

Specimen Collected on: 08/08/15


Verified on: 10/05/15

Animal ID

Specimen

Test

MMSC-15-117
Post Mortem
Whole Body Dead
Comment: Date of death: 8/8/2015. Manner of death: Euthanasia.
GROSS NECROPSY FINDINGS:
GENERAL EXAMINATION: A necropsy is performed on August 10, 2015.
The body is that of a 192kg adult male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops
truncatus) with adequate musculature and severely depleted adipose
deposits in good postmortem condition. The body length measures
285cm and the blubber layer measures 1.8cm (dorsum), 1.8cm (lateral
flank), and 2.4cm (ventrum). All organs not described are within
normal limits.
INTEGUMENT/SUBCUTIS: There are occasional linear indentations (rake
marks) on most skin surfaces. The peripheral skin on the fluke and
dorsal fin is mildly irregular.
THORACIC CAVITY: The abdomen is filled with a small amount
(approximately 1L) of thin, clear, light brown fluid.
LUNGS: The pulmonary parenchyma is mottled pink to red with
occasional 3-6mm diameter firm tan foci that occasionally contain
small amounts of soft tan to yellow material. The majority of
medium to small caliper airways in both lobes have moderate numbers
of 1mm diameter lung worms that measure between 15 to 20 mm in
length.
CARDIOVASCULAR: The pericardial adipose tissue is not visible.
PERITONEAL CAVITY: The abdomen is filled with a small amount
(approximately 1L) of thin, clear, light brown fluid. There is no
visible adipose tissue within the mesentery or associated with
either kidney.
DIGESTIVE TRACT: The forestomach (non-glandular gastric
compartment) has rare 3-5mm diameter mucosal indentations that are
lined by small amounts of dark brown discolored tissue. All gastric
compartments are empty. The small and large intestines contain only
small amounts of bright yellow mucus.
TESTICLES: The testicular parenchyma has occasional 3-8mm diameter
yellow to light brown discolored foci that are scattered within both
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Result
gross pathology

testicles. These discolored areas range from firm and granular to


soft and oozing small amounts of tan to white material.
URINARY BLADDER: The lumen is filled with approximately 300mL of
bright yellow mildly viscous urine.
BRAIN: The lateral ventricles are partially filled with an
irregularly shaped mass composed of soft, tan to dark red mottled
tissue.
RETENTION OF TISSUES: Routine. Additional sections of lung and
brain are frozen at -20C.
PHOTOGRAPHS are taken of external body and major organs in situ.
GROSS DIAGNOSES:
Body as a whole: Emaciated, severe.
Lung: Pneumonia, granulomatous, chronic, multifocal, mild.
Testicle: Orchitis, granulomatous, chronic, multifocal, mild.
Thorax and abdomen: Effusion, serous to serosanginous, mild.
Lung: Nematodes, mild to moderate.
Stomach: Ulceration, chronic, multifocal, mild, forestomach (nonglandular gastric compartment).
Comment: See case summary.
Pathologist: Angelique Leone, VMD
Test: Histopathology
Verified by: Dr. Angelique Leone

Specimen Collected on: 08/08/15


Verified on: 10/12/15

Animal ID

Specimen

Test

MMSC-15-117
Histopathology
Whole Body Dead
Comment: Microscopic description: Slides 1-16 and Slides A-F. Sections of
brain, trachea, lung, thoracic lymph nodes, heart, liver, spleen,
skeletal muscle, tongue, urinary bladder, pancreas, and
gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts are examined. Major lesions
are described below. Minor lesions are only noted within the final
anatomic diagnoses.
Brain: The leptomeninges overlying large areas of the cortex,
cerebellum, and brainstem are mildly to moderately expanded by
lymphocytes, histiocytes, and rare plasma cells. The vessels within
these expanded areas of meningeal connective tissue are frequently
moderately dilated and congested. This leptomeningeal inflammation
rarely also superficially extends into the parenchyma. At the level
of the caudal brainstem, the leptomeningeal inflammation also
extends within the connective tissue surrounding associated nerve
rootlets. Additionally, the caudal brainstem has large bilaterally
symmetrical areas of vacuolation within white matter tracts. These
vacuolated areas also have occasional vessels that are surrounded by
low numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and occasional
neutrophils.
At multiple coronal levels, there are areas of perivascular
inflammation within Virchow- Robin spaces composed of primarily low
to moderate numbers of lymphocytes, histocytes, fewer plasma cells
and rare neutrophils. These foci are also frequently associated
with foci of malacia and neuropil rarefaction, have mild gliosis,
and are occasionally infiltrated by low numbers of gemistocytic
astrocytes. Occasional necrotic neurons are also incorporated into
the lesional areas with gemistocytic astrocytes. Rare presumptive
astrocytes adjacent to these affect areas have approximately 3-4
diameter eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions. The caudate
nucleus and thalamus are most prominently affected by the areas of
malacia and neuronal necrosis.
Choroid plexus: The choroid plexus is frequently bordered by
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Result
Completed Histopathology

markedly inflamed leptomeningeal connective tissue. There is also


marked interstitial fibrosis. The interstitial vessels are severely
dilated and congested.
Lung: Large areas of the pulmonary interstitium are markedly
expanded by increased amounts of connective tissue that has numerous
small caliper vessels (angiomatosis). This change is especially
prominent in areas of the alveolar tissue immediately adjacent to
the pleura and large vessels. There are also other areas of
parenchyma with large consolidated areas infiltrated by numerous
neutrophils centrally that are bordered by low numbers of
histiocytes and rare multinucleated cells (abscess). Small clusters
of alveolar macrophages and/or eosinophilic granular material
(edema) are within occasional alveoli adjacent to the abscesses.
Occasional bronchioles are filled with adult nematodes (lung worms).
The abscesses and bronchiolar nematodes are not concurrent lesions.
Final anatomic diagnoses:
Brain: Meningoencephalitis, lymphohistiocytic, chronic, multifocal
to coalescing, moderate to severe, with associated choroid plexus
hypertrophy.
Brain: Encephalitis, lymphohistiocytic, chronic, multifocal,
moderate, perivascular, with malacia, gliosis, mild neuronal
necrosis, and rare eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions
(presumptive astrocytes).
Body as a whole: Emaciated, severe (gross diagnosis).
Lung: Abscess, chronic, multifocal to coalescing, moderate.
Testicle: Abscess, with mineralization, chronic, multifocal to
coalescing, moderate to severe, with associated lymphoplasmacytic to
histiocytic orchitis.
Spleen: Splenitis, suppurative to histiocytic, chronic, multifocal,
mild to moderate, with lymphoid depletion and follicular fibrin
deposition.
Lung: Pulmonary angiomatosis, chronic, multifocal, moderate, with
mild multifocal lymphohistiocytic infiltrates.
Thorax and abdomen: Effusion, serous to serosanginous, mild (gross
diagnosis).
Lung: Bronchiolar nematodes (lung worms), chronic, multifocal,
minimal to mild.
Kidney: Interstitial infiltrates, lymphohistiocytic, chronic,
multifocal, mild, renal pelvis.
Thoracic lymph node #2: Angiomatosis, chronic, peripheral, moderate,
with moderate to severe lymphoid depletion and mild medullary
histiocytosis.
Trachea: Tracheitis, lymphoplasmacytic, chronic, diffuse, mild,
lamina propria and submucosa.
Epididymis: Epididymitis, lymphoplasmacytic to suppurative, chronic,
multifocal to coalescing, mild to moderate, interstitium.
Stomach: Gastritis, ulcerative, lymphoplasmacytic, chronic,
multifocal, mild, forestomach (non-glandular gastric compartment).
Skin: Erosive dermatitis, suppurative, acute to subacute,
multifocal, mild.
Skin: Epidermal hyperplasia, chronic, multifocal, mild to moderate,
with areas of dermal fibrosis and rete peg anastomosis.
Thoracic lymph node #1: Medullary congestion, acute, diffuse,
moderate, with mild hemosiderosis.
Liver: Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, chronic, periportal, mild.
Kidney and liver: Congestion, acute, multifocal, mild to moderate.
Spleen: Extramedullary hematopoiesis, mild.
Pathologist: Angelique Leone, VMD
Comments: See case summary.

Case No: 15-1831

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Referral External
Test: referral external results
Verified by: Dr. Angelique Leone

Specimen Collected on: 08/08/15


Verified on: 10/05/15

Animal ID

Specimen

Test

MMSC-15-117
re external results
Whole Body Dead
Comment: Morbillivirus PCR is conducted at the University of Georgia, Athens
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Result
see comments

MMSC-15-117 - Lung is positive


MMSC-15-117 - Brain is negative
Sequencing of the PCR product revealed a 99% similarity to Cetacean
morbillivirus GenBank accession KP836003.
MMSC-15-117
re external results
Whole Body Dead
Comment: Testing at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Zoological section)
Sample submitted: paraffin embedded blocks (brain and testis)
Results: Testis is PCR positive for Brucella spp. Brain is PCR
negative for Brucella spp.
End of Report

Case No: 15-1831

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