Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
3/11/2012
www.theorcaproject.com
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 Diego, California, Nootka
3/11/2012
www.theorcaproject.com
SEA
WORLD
FACILITY:
Sea World o f C a l i f o r n i a
PROSECTOR:
J i m McBain,
D.V.M.
GENUS/SPECIES : I D NUMBER:
SWC-00-8628/SW 3/13/90
adult
SEX:
female
DATE O F D E A T H :
DATE O F NECROPSY:
3/13/90
1 5 0 cm 6 1 cm
GIRTH AT UMBILICUS:
DORSAL F I N H E I G H T :
HISTORY: T h i s a n i m a l experi'enced a c h r o n i c i l l n e s s w h i c h f i r s t b e c a m e apparent i n l a t e A u g u s t 1 9 8 9 . S h e w a s m a i n t a i n e d on a n t i b i o t i c therapy u n t i l early D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 9 . I n D e c e m b e r a deep m y c o s e s s e r u m p a n e l as w e l l a s t h e a p p e a r a n c e of a m y c o t i c g l o s s a l lesion m a d e us aware that t h e a n i m a l w a s s u f f e r i n g f r o m a c o m b i n e d f u n g u s and y e a s t infection. Treatment was begun with Itraconzole (Janssen Pharmeceutica) i n combination w i t h a n t i b i o t i c s . I t r a c o n z z o l e blood levels w e r e m o n i t o r e d to m a i n t a i n therapeutic levels. A special lymphocyte s t u d y w a s done t h a t r e v e a l e d a very h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f T - s u p p r e s s o r cells, w h i c h i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a s t a t e of immunosuppression. T h i s condition i s t h o u g h t t o have b e e n of severe1 m o n t h s ' d u r a t i o n a n d probably a n age-related p h e n o m e n o n . During the l a s t w e e k of h e r l i f e , i m r n u n o m o d u l a t i ~ gm e d i c a t i o n s w e r e u t i l i z e d i n association w i t h the a n t i m i c r o b i a l treatments. The animal died q u i e t l y on M a r c h 1 3 , 1 9 9 0 , 4 5 m i n u t e s a f t e r her l a s t m e a l .
'
Code,
ic p a r e n t h e s e s , f o r s a m p l e s t a k e n :
C = culture; V = virology; M = metals; P = pesticides; E = electron m i c r o s c o p e samples
GENERAL, E X T E R N A L A P P E A R A N C E : ( o r a l c a v i t y , e x t e r n a l n a r e s , s k i n , e y e s ) The s k i n o f t h e d o r s a l f i n i s r o u g h and c r a c k e d , probably t h e r e s u l t o f drying. T h e r e i s one s m a l l c r a c k i n t h e s k i n on t h e l a t e r a l a s p e c t o f the blowhole. T h e s k i n i s g e n e r a l l y n o r m a l a n d f r e e of lesions. G i n g i v a a r o u n d t h e t e e t h h a s a p a p i l l i f o m appearance.
PAGE 2
SUEDEE'& CSITDZTIOIU': ( b l u b b e r , m u s c l e s , lymph n o d e s ) The b l u b b e r ~ h i c k n e s s i s good w i t h a d e p t h o f 7 cm m e a s u r e d on t h e v e n t r a l abdominal m i d l i n e . Muscle m a s s a p p e a r s normal. A prescapular l y m p h n o d e c o n t a i n s m u l t i p l e firm foci. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: (brain, p i t u i t a r y , spinal cord) T h e r e i s a n a r e a of a p p a r e n t hemorrhage o r hyperemia i n v o l v i n g l e f t c e r e b e l l a r hemisphere. the
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: ( t r a c h e a , b r o n c h i , l u n g s , lymph n o d e s ) M u l t i p l e f i n n i r r e g u l a r nodules- i n v o l v e b o t h r i g h t and l e f t l u n g lobes. These n o d u l e s range i n s i z e from l e s s t h a n 0 . 5 cm t o o v e r 2 0 'cm i n d i u n e t e r , Many n o d u l e s a p p e a r t o h a v e c o a l e s c e d . The n o d u l e s o n z u t s x t i o r have? a h o r n o g e ~ z o u s c o n s i s t e n c y a n d a g r a y / w n i t e color. CARDIOVASCULAR. SYSTEM: ( h e a r t , a o r t a , major v e s s e l s ) T h e r e i s a m o d e r a t e a m o u n t of c o r o n a r y adipose. (esophagus, stomach, intestine, recta!., cecum, lymph n o d e s ) T h e r e i s a s m a l l m i n e r a l i z e d c o n c r e t i o n on t h e muscular s u r f z c e of t h e esophagus. The s t o m a c h s a r e n o r m a l and c o n t a i n a s i z e a b l e a m o u n t ,of f i s h i n v a r y i n g s t a g e s of d i g e s t i o n . LIVER: ( b i l i a r y s y s t e m ) T h e r e i s " c l o u d y s w e l l i n g " w i t h t h e e d g e s of. t h e i o b e s b e i n g s l i g h t l y r o u n d e d .. The parenchyma l o o k s g r o s s 1 y n o r m a l . REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: (testicles, ovaries) T h e r i g h t o v a r y c o n t a i n s a l a r g e c o r p u s l u t e u n a b o u t 7 . 5 cm x 5 . 0 THYROID: The t h y r o i d i s v e r y l a r g e b u t n o r m a l i n a p p e a r a n c e . cm x
4
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
PAXASITE SLDPlAFCY:
No parasites a r e fouci.
GROSS S M A Y : 1. U MR 2. 3.
4.
PAGE 3
TENTATIVE DIAGNOSIS: In this case, death may have been due to the chronic%pneumonia. The apparent encephalitis may o r may not have been important at the time of death. Histology may b e enlightening in this regard.
CONCLUSIONS:
(after histology
&
'
The cause of death appears to have been the result of a pyogranulomatous pneumonia with histologic evidence suggesting that Nocardia sp., and Aspergillus sp. were the etiologic agents. This finding is in kee2ing with the c1,inical assessment prior to death. (Conclusion at bottom)
/
Immunosuppression is often the essential ingredient in allowing Nocardia sp. and especially Asperqillus sp. to become established in the host. Chronic immunosuppression was apparent in this animal for several months prior to the onset of symptoms that ultimately lead to its death 7 months later. The im~unosuppressionwas evidenced by very low total ly~?hocyte counts and circulating "T"-lymphocytic populations that were dorrilnated by suppressor cells. This is often the case with imrn~nosuppress~on the aged individual. ln