Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Apr 2024)
Case Report: Ambergris coprolite and septicemia in a male sperm whale stranded in La Palma (Canary Islands)
- Antonio Fernández,
- Antonio Fernández,
- Cristian Suárez-Santana,
- Cristian Suárez-Santana,
- Paula Alonso-Almorox,
- Paula Alonso-Almorox,
- Francesco Achille Consoli,
- Francesco Achille Consoli,
- Zuleima Suárez González,
- Zuleima Suárez González,
- Ignacio Molpeceres-Diego,
- Ignacio Molpeceres-Diego,
- Claudia Iglesias González,
- Claudia Iglesias González,
- Marta Lorente Hernández,
- Amaranta Hugo Pérez,
- José Luis Martín-Barrasa,
- José Luis Martín-Barrasa,
- Laura Iglesias Llorente,
- Félix M. Medina,
- Raiden Grandía Guzmán,
- Raiden Grandía Guzmán,
- Diego Llinás Rueda,
- Diego Llinás Rueda,
- Manuel Arbelo,
- Manuel Arbelo,
- Eva Sierra,
- Eva Sierra
Affiliations
- Antonio Fernández
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Antonio Fernández
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Cristian Suárez-Santana
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Cristian Suárez-Santana
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Paula Alonso-Almorox
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Paula Alonso-Almorox
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Francesco Achille Consoli
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Francesco Achille Consoli
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Zuleima Suárez González
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Zuleima Suárez González
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Ignacio Molpeceres-Diego
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Ignacio Molpeceres-Diego
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Claudia Iglesias González
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Claudia Iglesias González
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Marta Lorente Hernández
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Amaranta Hugo Pérez
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- José Luis Martín-Barrasa
- Group of Fish Health and Infectious Diseases, University Institute of Animal Health, and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- José Luis Martín-Barrasa
- Country Animal Facility, Research Unit, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Laura Iglesias Llorente
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Félix M. Medina
- Biodiversity Unit, Cabildo de la Isla de La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
- Raiden Grandía Guzmán
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Raiden Grandía Guzmán
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Diego Llinás Rueda
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Diego Llinás Rueda
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Manuel Arbelo
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Manuel Arbelo
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- Eva Sierra
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Marine Mammals Health WOAH col Centre, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Veterinary School, Las Palmas, Spain
- Eva Sierra
- Canary Islands Stranding Network, Canary Islands Government, Canary Islands, Spain
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1388276
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 11
Abstract
On the 21st of May 2023, a dead adult male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) of 13 m in length and estimated weight of around 18,000 kg was reportedly stranded at Playa Los Nogales, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. A necropsy was performed 48hpm. A 50 cm diameter and 9.5 kg coprolite was found obstructing the caudal colon-rectal lumen. Necro-hemorrhagic lesions were found in heart muscles and three different bacteria of intestinal origin were isolated and identified (Edwarsiella tarda, Hathewaya limosa and Clostridium perfringens). It is reported a lethal septicemia of intestinal origin associated with ambergris coprolite as cause of death in this sperm whale.
Keywords