title: Escherichia coli septicemia associated with lack of maternally acquired immunity in a bottlenose dolphin calf.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: van Elk
authors.forename: M W G
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van Dep Bildt
authors.forename: B E E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Martina
authors.forename: A D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuiken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male