Abstract

A captive adult male white spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) exhibited a sudden onset of depressible distension of the cranial third of the coelom without affecting the general condition. A discontinuity of the coelomic muscle wall associated with a focal thickening of the ventral gastric wall and moderate coelomic effusion were noted on coelomic ultrasound. Radiographs were unremarkable. Coelomic hernia and focal coelomitis were suspected and supportive care with antibiotics (ceftiofur and florfenicol) was initiated. Hematology and biochemistry results were consistent with dehydration. Upon exploratory coeliotomy, a double coelomic hernia of the ventral coelomic wall without entrapment of vital structures was confirmed. The larger hernia, intersecting the transversus abdominis muscle, was reduced with a polypropylene mesh (Prolene mesh, Ethicon, Inc.) and a porcine submucosa mesh implant (Surgisis, Cook Medical, Ind.).^1,2 The second hernia was closed with an interrupted cruciate pattern. Bacterial culture of the surgical area revealed a multidrug resistant Pseudomonas sp. Postoperative treatment included gentamycin based on culture sensitivity, meloxicam, and nutritional support. Postoperative complications included skin erythema and subcutaneous edema adjacent to the wound for up to one month following surgery. Sutures were removed two months postoperatively. Inflammatory nodules developed on the scar four months after the herniorrhaphy. No wound dehiscence or hernia recurrence were noted on follow-up nine months post-surgery. The definitive etiology of the hernia remains unknown, but it is suspected to be traumatic. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a successful treatment of coelomic hernia with polypropylene and porcine mucosa meshes in elasmobranchs.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the animal health technicians and aquarists of the Aquarium du Québec and the clinicians, residents and interns in Zoological Medicine of the Université de Montréal who contributed to the management of this case.

Literature Cited

1.  Ashley LM, Chiasson RB. 1983. Muscular System. In: William C. Brown, editors. Laboratory Anatomy of the Shark Fourth edition. Dubuque, Iowa: W.C. Brown Co. 1983. p 18–30.

2.  Ansaloni L, Catena F, Gagliardi S, Gazzotti F, D’Alessandro L, Pinna AD. 2007. Hernia repair with porcine small-intestinal submucosa. Hernia 11(4):321–6.