Coccidioidomycosis in a bottlenose dolphin.

A stranded bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gilli) succumbed to a pulmonary infection of Coccidioides immitis. The dolphin initially presented with mild inspiratory dyspnea that rapidly worsened over 48 hr to include buoyancy abnormalities and finally death. At necropsy, caseous nodules were observed throughout the lungs and perihilar lymph nodes. On histological examination of tissues, double walled organisms containing endospores characteristic of C. immitis were observed in lung, perihilar lymph nodes, and brain. Pyogranulomatous infiltrates were observed in the lung and perihilar lymph nodes only. A DNA Gen-Probe test performed on a purified isolate confirmed infection by C. immitis. Serum was positive for antibodies to C. immitis at a titer of 1:128 and was negative for all known marine morbilliviruses. Although there have been reports of C. immitis infections in free ranging marine wildlife, including California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and sea otters (Enhydra lutris), this is the first reported case of coccidioidomycosis in a cetacean.

Neoplasms in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii).

Pathologic studies were made on 18 Tasmanian devils that were necropsied at the San Diego Zoo. Spontaneous neoplasms and/or preneoplastic hyperplasia were the most frequently occurring diseases. Abnormal proliferative lesions were present in 9 animals; 6 of these had two or more concomitant proliferative diseases. Renal disease was observed in 7 animals.

Cryptococcosis in columbiformes at the San Diego Zoo.

Two cases of cryptococcosis in columbiformes exhibited at the San Diego Zoo are described. The organism isolated from the first case had morphological, chemical and temperature growth characteristics of C. neoformans. The culture from case 2 died before it could be examined biochemically or by mouse inoculation.

Heterakidosis and nodular granulomas caused by Heterakis isolonche in the ceca of gallinaceous birds.

Five pheasants and two ocellated turkeys from the San Diego Zoological Garden had multiple cecal nodules. These nodules were composed mostly of granulomas and fibrous hyperplastic tissue associated with Heterakis isolonche.

Premature parturition in the California sea lion.

Twenty percent of the California sea lion pups born on San Miguel Island die due to premature parturition. Specimens collected from premature-partus animals resulted in recovery of a virus, San Miguel Sea Lion Virus, indistinguishable from Vesicular Exanthema of Swine Virus, and Leptospira pomona from some of the premature cows and pups. The age range of 10 females delivering healthy pups in June was 10-14 years. With one exception, the ages in 10 aborting females was 6-8 years. The p,p'-DDE levels of the premature parturient cows' blubber and liver were 7.6 and 4.8 times greater, respectively, than corresponding tissue concentrations in the full-term animals. Polychlorinated biphenyls residues were 4.4 and 3.8 times greater in aborting animals' blubber and liver than in the same tissues of full-term sea lions. Premature-partus females had tissue imbalances of mercury, selenium, cadmium and bromine. Pathology, parasitology, serum enzyme and hormone results are also presented. These data suggest an interrelationship of disease agents and environmental contaminants as the cause of premature parturition.