Abstract

On December 14th, 1997, thirty-two Steno bredanensis stranded at Cape San Blas, Florida, along the Northeast Gulf of Mexico. Extreme weather conditions and impending darkness prompted transfer of the dolphins to a shallow, protected boat basin for the night. On the following afternoon, seven of the surviving animals were transported to the Gulfarium, an oceanarium in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

One male and two female that remained alive developed severe panhypoproteinemia with total serum protein values as low as 3.6g/dl and albumin values of 1.6g/dl. Chronic blood loss was suspected in light of the accompanying regenerative anemia indicated by 20% packed cell volumes, nucleated red blood cell counts as high as 241/100WBCs, and significant reticulocytosis. Etiology of the losses was undetermined despite extensive laboratory testing.

The male dolphin continued to deteriorate despite six weeks of intense therapy and was humanely euthanized. Post mortem examination revealed multisystem disease including coronary arteriosclerotic changes, potentially immune mediated glomerular nephritis, and severe duodenitis with evidence of an infectious etiology. Post mortem urinalysis was negative for protein.

Based on these findings, the protein and blood loss was attributed to the extensive duodenitis and therapy on the two remaining dolphins was changed. Gentamycin sulfate at 2.5mg/kg TID, sucralfate at 1gm QID, and 600,000 IU nystatin TID were started orally. After two weeks on the new therapeutic regimen, blood values were approaching normal and the dolphins' appetites and weights were increasing.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank, the Gulfarium staff and Greg Siebenaler, the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge volunteers especially George Gray, Rich Everett and Diane Sips. Also Columbia Hospital Fort Walton Beach, FL for donating laboratory services and Glaxo Wellcome for donating ceftazidime.