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3/11/2012
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Comment Clifford J. Hixson, VMD (1992): : Systemic zygomycosis is most likely responsible for the death of both the mother killer whale and her calf. Severe tissue damage associated with luxuriant growth of fungal organisms is present in both the brain and uterus of the mother. Although fungal hyphae are evident in several areas of the placenta, there is no microscopic evidence of systemic invasion of fungal organisms in the calf. For more on Samoas death, see: http://withoutmethereisnou.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/the-truth-behind-samoasdeath-captivity-disease-not-found-in-wild-orcas/
Notes: Prior to reforms of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1994, holders of marine mammals for public display were required to submit necropsy reports (animal autopsy reports) for deceased animals, making the documents available to the public and scientific community. Presently, marine mammal parks in the U.S. are only required to provide a cause of death to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which maintains Marine Mammal Inventory Reports (MMIR). Details of marine mammal deaths are now a closely guarded secret at U.S. entertainment facilities. The Orca Project acquired the following documents from the National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.A) via the Freedom of Information Act for deaths that occurred prior to implementation of the 1994 MMPA changes. For more information visit www.theorcaproject.com
Necropsy, Autopsy, Veterinarian, NOAA, NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, MMIR, Marine Mammal Inventory Report, MMPA, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Killer Whale, Orca, Shamu, Death, Die, SeaWorld, San Antonio, Texas, Samoa, calf
3/11/2012
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May 1, '1992
Pr
National Marine F i s h e r i e s Service 1335 East-West Highway, Room 8268 S i 1ver Spri ng, Mary1 and 20910
RE:
Dear D r . Foster: Three copies .of t h e attached serve as an update t o our inventory r e p o r t s . Sincerely,
D i r e c t o r , National A f f a i r s 1776 I S t r e e t , N.W. #ZOO Washington, D.C. 20006 Attachment: Marine Mammal Col 1e c t i o n / I n v e n t o r y Reports SWO-00-8951 NMFS InventoryIMortal it y Report SWO-00-8951 Sea World Gross Necropsy Report
Sea World. Inc. 7007 Sea World Drive Orlando. FL 32821-8097 (407) 351 -3600 FAX (407) 345-5397
ID I SWO-00-8951 :
Sex:
Female 3/14/92
3/14/92
Date of Necropsy:
(metric only)
GIRTH AT AXILLA:
310 cm
This animal arrived at Sea World in May of 1989 from a small Brazilian oceanarium. medical problems. She appeared to be in good neai'ch with no
On February 28, 1992, a routine blood sample revealed an elevated uhite blood cell count. Behavior and f.ood intake remained normal. Broad
spectrum antibiotic treatment was started. Follow-up blood samples were done on March 3rd and 6th. count. Both revealed a decreasing white blood cell
follow-up blood sample on March 11th revealed an elevated white blood count. Medication changes were made in response to the hemogram. Blood samples on March 12th and 13th revealed a total white blood cell count within the normal range. Treatment continued unchanged. Food intake Fetal flukes
were observed protruding from the genital slit at 0400 March 14th. The animal died during labor at 0622.
PAGE 2
ID# -SWO-00-8951
Shallow cutaneous fissures approximately 7cm long radiating from the blowhole. There was no evidence of external trauma.
SUBDERMAL CONDITION:
CRANIAL EXAM:
The caudal and medial walls of both pterygoid sinuses were markedly thickened and nodular. Multiple nematode-like parasites were observed
embedded in granulation tissue in the sinuses. The left eustachian tube was obliteratedby granulation tissue and osteophytes resulting fromthe presence of parasites.
The lateral surface of the right cerebral hemisphere was hemorrhagic. An 8 to 10 cm diameter area of malacia and cavitation was observed in the lateral center of the right cerebral hemisphere. It extended into
the parenchyma. Two 4 cm diameter blood clots were associated with the area of malacia.
THORACIC CAVITY:
(pleura)
No lesions noted.
No lesions noted.
PAGE 3
I D # SWO-00-8951
( t r a c h e a , b r o n c h i , l u n g s , lymph nodes)
Airways:
Mainstem b r o n c h i f i l l e d w i t h w h i t e f r o t h .
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
ABDOMINAL CAVITY:
(lymph nodes)
T h e r e a p p e a r e d t o be an e x c e s s i v e amount of a . c l e a r , y e l l o w f l u i d . P e t e c h i a t i o n , w a s o b s e r v e d on t h e p e r i t o n e a l w a l l a d j a c e n t t o t h e u t e r u s .
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
. .
Oral Cavity:
(Occurred a t t i m e o f death.) I r r e g u l a r a r e a of d a r k r e d
M u l t i p l e s m a l l s t o n e s i n 3 r d o r 4 t h compartment o f stomach. No g a s t r i c u l c e r s n o t e d . No l e s i o n s n o t e d t h r o u g h o u t i n t e s t i n e .
LIVER:
( b i l i a r y system)
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
PANCREAS :
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
PAGE 4
SPLEEN:
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM:
The l e f t h o r n c o n t a i n e d a n e a r t e r m female f e t u s t h a t weighed 1 0 4 . 5 kg.
L e f t Ovary: R i g h t Ovary:
G r a v i d Horn D i s t e n d e d w i t h F e t u s : Placenta
r
uniformly
dark
red.
hemorrhages on s e r o s a o f u t e r u s .
URINARY SYSTEM:
(kidneys, u r e t e r , bladder, u r e t h r a )
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
ADRENAL GLANDS:
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
SKELETAL SYSTEM:
No l e s i o n s n o t e d .
PAGE 5
Gross Summary: 1. Malacia and cavitation of the lateral center of the right cerebral hemisphere.
2.
3.
4.
Multiple uterine hemorrhages. Verminous pterygoid sinusitis. Autolytic fema1.e calf in left uterine horn.
nematode) were obsenred bilaterally in the pterygoid sinuses'. Parasitic ova having a .single operculum were obsenred in a small granuloma found in a lymph node.
Microbioloqy Summary: Saksenaea vasiformis was isolated from the uterus. Hyphae observed
Histo~atholo~ Summary: 1.
2.
3.
mycotic meningoencephalitis mycotic endometritis parasitic sinusitis parasitic lymphadenitis (incidental finding in a single lymph node)
4.
l f a q n e t i c Resonance Imaqinq Summary: Large right parietal necrotic cavity of rnycotic origin with suggestions of extension t o the ventricular ependymal surface.
conclusions:
T h e University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 7703 Floyd Curl Drive San Antonio, Texas 78284-7859
Department of Laboratory .Animal Resources
(512) 567-6166
~ c c e s s i o nNumber: 92T3-98 Animal Number: SWO-00-8951 Submitted by: Dr. Dalton Histopathology:
Slide A
'
brain, cerebral cortex. here' is a necrotizing vasculitis of vessels in the meninges and cerebral cortex. There is hemorrhage, necrosis and scanty leucocytic exudation in the cortical tissue. The necrotic vessels and necrotic cerebral tissue both contain numerous hyphal elements that are nonseptate, branching, thin walled, and irregularly shaped.
Same as A.
Slide B
Same as A . Same as A.
- myocardium, no lesion
thyroid gland, no lesion
- kidney, no lesion
lymph node, no lesion
Slide I
- liver, no lesion
spleen, decreased lymphocytes in paracortical areas of germinal centers non-glandular.stomach,no lesion.
small intestine ( 2 ) , autolysi-s of villi, focal areas of mucosal hemorrhage. aorta, no lesion trachea, no lesion pituitary gland, no lesion
~h , u r s
----a.
01
<A-
AA
cl-inn
glandular stomach, no lesion small intestine (2), no lesion ova. -The ova have a single operculum. The granuloma has a thick connective tissue wall.'
Slide Q
mucosa of sinus, same as slide Q. lymph node (2), small focus of hemorrhage and inflammation. lymph node, hemorrhagic lymphadenitis, no organisms seen. lymph node, small focus of hemorrhage. lymph node, medullary hemorrhage. uterus, severe necrohemorrhagic endometritis. There is hemorrhage, necrosis, and neutrophil exudation associated with hyphal invasion of endometrial glands, blood vessels and stroma of the superficial endometrium. Mycotic organisms were not found in the deepest layer of the endometrium or in the myometrium. The morphology of the fungus is the same as the organism seen in the brain. ovary, corpus luteum, no lesion. placenta, no lesion. ovary, inactive, no lesion. ovary, inactive, no lesion.
slide X
'
Slide Y Slide 2
Slide 2
ovary, inactive, no lesion. This tissue was included with tissues from the 'genital tract. It has a non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with a very irregular epithelial-submucosal junction. There are no adnexal structures. The submucosal tissues are fibromuscular, vagina?. No lesion. placenta, no lesion. fetal myocardium, no lesion. fetal lung, no lesion. fetal lung, no lesion. fetal kidney, no lesion. fetal liver, no lesion
Slide AA
Slide BB Slide
CC
Slide DD Slide EE
'DIAGNOSES:
1 .
2.
3.
4.
COMMENT: The morphology of the mycotic agent suggests it is one of the zygomyces. The mycotic organism was found only in uterus and brain. My impression is that a primary mycotic endometritis developed which spread to the brain and a fulminating encephalitis developed. The degree of autolysis of the fetal tissue is compatible with intrauterine death several days prior to the death of the dam.
Subject: Summary of Microscopic Findings in Tissues from Killer Whale # SWO-00-8951, "Samoan To: Sea World of Texas
13 APRIL 1332
significant microscopic changes were present in the following tissues: a. Brain Dx, severe, diffuse, acute necrotizing encephalitis with intralesional fungal hyphae. b. Uterus Dx, severe, diffuse, acute necrotizing endometritis with -
c. Placenta Dx, mild, multifocal, acute placentitis with intralesional fungal hyphae. d. Pterygoid Sinus Dx, mild to moderate, diffuse, chronic sinusitis with numerous cross sections of intralesional nematodes. e. Lung Dx, mild, multifocal, acute hemorrhage. The following tissues were examined microscopically and found to be unremarkable: kidney, thyroid, liver, spleen, adrenal gland, heart, ovary, stomach ( glandular and nonglandular ) , small and large intestine, multiple lymph nodes from various areas of the body, and pituitary gland. The following fetal tissues exhibited autolytic change but were otherwise unremarkable: heart, liver, kidney, and lung. Comment : Systemic zygomycosis is most likely responsible for the death of both the mother killer whale and her calf. Severe tissue damage associated with luxuriant growth of fungal organisms is present in both the brain and uterus of the mother. Although fungal hyphae are evident in several areas of the placenta,there is no microscopic evidence of systemic invasion of fungal organisms in the calf.