Nasitrema sp.-associated encephalitis in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded in the Gulf of Mexico.
An immature female striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) found dead on a northwestern Florida beach in 1988 exhibited severe inflammation bilaterally in the dorsal and mid-thalamus in association with adult trematodes (Nasitrema sp.) and trematode eggs. Numerous specimens of Nasitrema sp. also were present in the pterygoid sinuses. Pneumonia in association with a heavy growth of Vibrio damsela was observed also. This report confirms the occurrence of Nasitrema sp.-associated encephalitis in striped dolphins and in small cetaceans from the Gulf of Mexico.
O'Shea
T J
TJ
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Ecology Research Center, Gainesville, Florida 32601.
Homer
B L
BL
Greiner
E C
EC
Layton
A W
AW
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004289:Dolphins / Q000469:parasitology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D013788:Thalamus / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary