Unusual incidence of chronic pneumonia associated with cholesterol deposits in stranded and bycaught franciscanas Pontoporia blainvillei

Author(s)

Ruoppolo, Valeria ^{[1, 2]} ; Thijl Vanstreels, Ralph Eric ^[3] ; Marigo, Juliana ^{[2, 4]} ; Catao-Dias, Jose Luiz ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Int Fund Anim Welf, Emergency Relief Team, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 - USA

^[2] Projeto BioPesca, Praia Grande, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Patol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Fac Oceanog, Lab Mamiferos Aqut Bioindicadores MAQUA, BR-20550011 Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS; v. 92, n. 1, p. 75-81, OCT 26 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Franciscanas Pontoporia blainvillei are small dolphins endemic to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. During routine pathologic examinations, chronic pneumonia associated with cholesterol deposits was found in 16.7% of stranded and incidentally bycaught franciscanas (n = 60), and was more frequent in dolphins from the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo (Franciscana Management Area II) and frequently accompanied by splenic lymphoid hyperplasia. It is unclear why these otherwise uncommon lesions were relatively frequent in the studied dolphins, and further research is advised. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 99/12335-8 - Comparative pathology of cetaceans and pinnipeds
• Grantee: Valéria Ruoppolo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master