Nasitrema attenuata (Trematoda) infection of Tursiops truncatus and its potentialities as an aetiological agent of chronic pulmonary lesions.
Two cases of Nasitrema sp (Trematoda) infection of the bottlenosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, are reported and N. attenuata is briefly redescribed. The adults of the trematode occurring in the nasal sinuses and posterior nasal passage of the dolphins are considered as practically harmless for the host but thier eggs, aspirated deep into the bronchial tree, may initiate a foreign-body of inflammatory reaction in the lungs and continuous aspiration of such eggs may provoke a chronic pneumonia condition.
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D004289:Dolphins; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000469:parasitology; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*