Adhesive Bowel Obstruction (ABO) in a Stranded Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (<i>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri</i>)
Sung Bin Lee,
Adams Hei Long Yuen,
Young Min Lee,
Sang Wha Kim,
Sunmin Kim,
Cherry Tsz Ching Poon,
Won Joon Jung,
Sib Sankar Giri,
Sang Guen Kim,
Su Jin Jo,
Jae Hong Park,
Mae Hyun Hwang,
Jong-pil Seo,
Seongjun Choe,
Byung Yeop Kim,
Se Chang Park
Affiliations
Sung Bin Lee
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Adams Hei Long Yuen
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Young Min Lee
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Sang Wha Kim
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Endemic Disease, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
Sunmin Kim
Department of Parasitology, Parasite Research Center, International Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Cherry Tsz Ching Poon
Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
Won Joon Jung
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Sib Sankar Giri
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Sang Guen Kim
Department of Biological Sciences, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Republic of Korea
Su Jin Jo
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Jae Hong Park
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Mae Hyun Hwang
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Jong-pil Seo
College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
Seongjun Choe
Department of Parasitology, Parasite Research Center, International Parasite Resource Bank, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Byung Yeop Kim
Department of Marine Industry and Maritime Police, College of Ocean Science, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
Se Chang Park
Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of a narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), discovered on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, that was afflicted with adhesive bowel obstruction (ABO), a life-threatening condition that has scarcely been reported in cetaceans. Diagnosis of ABO was confirmed via radiological and clinical assessments. Post-mortem computed tomography and necropsy revealed ABO between two loops of the jejunum at the L8 level. The mesenteric tissue covering the intestinal lesion was severely thickened with increased tension. Both bowel loops were fixed to the mesentery and acutely angulated, leading to asymmetrical thickening of the cross-sectional bowel walls. The intestinal lumen was stenosed because of pressure from the firm mesenteric band, and no fecal matter was observed in the lumen of the posterior bowel or rectum. Calcified nodules were detected, and histological analysis suggested parasitic or suspected post-parasitic infections. The primary cause of the intestinal lesions is presumed to be a reaction related to parasitic infection. However, further investigations would establish a definitive link between parasitic infections and ABO in this species. This case highlights the importance of studying rare medical conditions in wildlife, providing valuable insights into marine mammal health.
