title: Removal of an intracoelomic hook via laparotomy in a sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus).
abstract: A twenty-one-year-old male sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) demonstrated signs of chronic weight loss even though its appetite remained unchanged. In addition, the gradual development of a red, circular lesion on its ventral body was noted. After months without any significant changes, a ventral fistula appeared revealing the tip of a wire exposed within its center. The shark was immobilized via intramuscular remote injection through dartgun with etomidate; removed from its exhibit tank; and clinically examined with radiographic imaging, a cell blood count/serum chemistry evaluation, and the use of a metal detector along the body wall. A metallic hook was identified in the coelom about 10 cm cranial to the external fistula. The shark was transferred to an isolation pool for 1 mo. A second immobilization via immersion in eugenol was conducted in order to perform a celiotomy. The hook was located in a liver lobe and was surgically removed. After a prolonged recovery from anesthesia, the shark was released into its primary tank and recovered uneventfully, although some of the skin sutures sloughed prematurely.
authors.affiliation: Parc Zoologique de Paris, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 53 avenue de St. Maurice, 75012 Paris, France. pzpveto@mnhn.fr
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lécu
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coulier
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012754:Sharks / Q000601:surgery*