Dolphin/Whale Hospital Mote Marine Laboratory

Dolphin & Whale Hospital
Mote Marine Laboratory

Dolphin & Whale Hospital Home Page Patients Newsletter Frequently Asked Questions
Facility Volunteer Donations Emporium Mote Marine Laboratory's Home Page

Current Patients

Vixen
(Steno bredanensis)

Moonshine
(Stenella attenuata)

Harley
(Stenella longirostris)

Former Patients

Seven Dwarfs
(Steno bredanensis)

Mayo
(Tursiops truncatus)

Caesar II
(Tursiops truncatus)

Toro
(Tursiops truncatus)

Jack
(Tursiops truncatus)

Carter
(Tursiops truncatus)

Simone
(Kogia sima)

CR
(Tursiops truncatus)

Armand
(Kogia breviceps)

Ami
(Kogia breviceps)

Anna
(Kogia sima)

Maria
(Kogia sima)

Jade
(Tursiops truncatus)

Nemo
(Kogia breviceps)

Mia
(Kogia breviceps)

Jason
(Kogia breviceps)

Dana
(Kogia breviceps)

Hemingway
(Tursiops truncatus)

Hutch
(Kogia breviceps)

Ginny
(Delphinus delphis)

Peanut
(Tursiops truncatus)

Hercules
(Steno bredanensis)

Holly
(Steno bredanensis)

Pumbaa
(Mesoplodon europaeus)

Pasco
(Feresa attenuata)

Vera
(Kogia breviceps)

Alvin
(Steno bredanensis)

Blitzen
(Steno bredanensis)

Comet
(Steno bredanensis)

Donner
(Steno bredanensis)

Abbey
(Feresa attenuata)

Buster
(Tursiops truncatus
hybrid coastal/offshore)

Gulliver
(Tursiops truncatus
offshore stock)

Mark
(Tursiops truncatus)

Belle
(Tursiops truncatus)

Benny
(Tursiops truncatus
offshore stock)

Juno
(Kogia breviceps)

Richey
(Kogia breviceps)

Lunar
(Feresa attenuata)

Freeway
(Tursiops truncatus)

Matt
(Tursiops truncatus)

Case Synopsis for MML0009 aka Dana
Species: Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps
Age Class: Adult
Gender: Male
Date Stranded: 12 March 2000 pm
Location of Stranding: Floridana Beach, Florida
Date of Arrival at DWH: 13 Mar 2000 am
Number of Days of Care: <1
Final Disposition: Died 13 Mar 00
13 Mar 00.  Late last night, a mature male pygmy sperm whale stranded on Floridana Beach near Vero Beach, Florida, and the whale was transported by the Harbor Branch Dolphin Rescue Group to the Dolphin and Whale Hospital for rehabilitation.  He arrived at about 12:30 am.  A blood sample, bacterial cultures and an EKG were taken and a gastroscopy was performed before he was placed in the 30 foot medical tank.  He is suffering from gastric ulcers, gastric stasis, dehydration, emaciation, stomach parasites, fluids in the lungs and has high liver and kidney enzyme levels.  He also has a low white count.  He is being treated with antibiotics, a diuretic, a gastric stimulant, and lots of oral fluids to correct the dehydration.  He is being supported 24 hours a day at this time.  His symptoms are almost identical to those of Hutch, another pygmy sperm whale that was treated here at DWH a couple of weeks ago.  We are concerned that this may be something contagious that may be going through the population of whales in the Atlantic.

13 Mar 00, 1515 hrs.  The pygmy sperm whale that arrived early this morning died.  A necropsy will be performed at Mote tomorrow morning to determine as much about the case as possible and to collect tissues for virus isolation.  Results will be posted later.

Necropsy Results.  A full necropsy was performed with the following gross findings: severe emaciation, lung consolidation and hemorrhage, liver soft and hemorrhagic, heavy parasite infestation in stomach, colon, muscle, blubber, and mesentery, severe constipation (probably due to dehydration).  Histopathology will take several months but we suspect a viral disease with the immediate cause of death being electrolyte imbalance due to severe dehydration.

Dolphin & Whale Hospital Home Page Patients Newsletter Frequently Asked Questions
Facility Volunteer Donations Emporium Mote Marine Laboratory Home Page
Graphics donated by ABACUS Digital Design