Abstract
An adult, female shark ray (Rhina ancylostoma) housed in a marine system with approximately 40,000 tropical fish and elasmobranches in a 20,800 m3 of seawater consisting of a biological system with mechanical filtration, ozone disinfection and water temperature of 26–27°C, was reported with poor body condition, and clinical presentations as emaciation, osmotic imbalance, dyspnea, and pale color on dorsal and pectoral fins. The shark ray measured 230 cm long (total length) and weighed 87.6 kg. Blood examination indicated marked leukocytosis, anemia, and hypoxemia. Abdominal ultrasound findings included marked ascites, liver that appeared to have rounded edges, and a distended gall bladder. Systemic bacterial infection was suspected, and therefore combined antibiotic therapy was started with ceftiofur IM, and alternate doses of marbofloxacin and amikacin IV.1,2 The shark was physically restrained under tonic immobility, elasmobranch-balanced salt solution was given IV along with daily tube feeding with 400 to 500 mL of Mazuri® Shark/Ray meal (5D2Q) supplemented with iron for seven days. The animal started to feed on its own after three to four days; however, blood results still showed anemia. Oral iron supplementation was then administered daily. At four weeks, the animal had good appetite and was already behaving normally; and leukocytosis and anemia have been corrected.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the staffs of Curatorial Department and Animal Health & Research of S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa for their patience and hard work caring for this case.
* Presenting author
Literature Cited
1. Stamper MA, Miller SM, Berzins IK. Pharmacology in elasmobranchs. In: Smith M, Warmolts D, Thoney D, Hueter R, eds. The Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual: Captive Care of Sharks, Rays and their Relatives. Ohio: Ohio Biological Survey; 2004: 447–466.
2. Boylan S. Chemotherapeutics in Elasmobranchs. In the Elasmobranch Husbandry and Medicine Workshop, the 43rd International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Annual Conference (IAAAM2012), Atlanta, Georgia, May 12–16, 2012.