Escherichia coli septicemia associated with lack of maternally acquired immunity in a bottlenose dolphin calf |
| |
Authors: | van Elk C E van Dep Bildt M W G Martina B E E Osterhaus A D M E Kuiken T |
| |
Institution: | Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. |
| |
Abstract: | Stillbirth and neonatal mortality are substantial problems in captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The cause of these problems often is unknown. We report a case of Escherichia coli septicemia in a male 3-day-old bottlenose dolphin calf. Lesions included omphalitis, synovitis, and hepatic necrosis associated with the presence of Gram-negative bacilli. E. coli was isolated in pure culture from multiple organs. A serum gammaglobulin level of 1.5 g/L indicated a lack of maternally acquired immunity. The observed failure to nurse may have resulted from brain injury due to perinatal asphyxia. Evidence for perinatal asphyxia was the diffuse presence of a moderate amount of meconium in the lungs. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 PubMed 等数据库收录! |
|