Dolphin & Whale Hospital
Mote Marine Laboratory

1/21 The calf and cow arrived at Mote's Dolphin and Whale Hospital at about 1930 hrs (7:30pm). They were transferred from the Marine Animal Rescue Society of Miami by staff of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. The calf is alert but weak and the cow is very weak. Blood and cultures were taken from both animals, and an ECG was taken of the cow. The cow is exhibiting gastric stasis. Both have been given fluids via stomach tube. Blood tests reveal that the calf has very little wrong, but the cow appears to have the same condition that Hutch and Dana had last year. Both of those died shortly after arrival. 1/22 Both animals are supporting themselves in the water and making some attempts to swim. The calf actually nursed from the cow last night and we are regularly collecting milk from the cow to give to the calf. The stomach of the cow is responding to treatment. 1/23 Both animals seem ready to swim on their own. Will try this afternoon to allow them to swim. Cow seems to be improving. 1/24 Since both animals appear to be doing well, they have finally been named. The cow is Mia and the calf is Ami (since they stranded near MiAmi). Both are supporting themselves in the water almost all the time and are swimming on their own a majority of the time. Mia began eating some squid this morning. We are never optimistic about Kogias but we are hopeful they will both survive. 1/24PM Mia took a sudden downward turn this afternoon. She began arching and within 30 minutes she died. Blood tests from this morning indicated a rapidly developing electrolyte imbalance and an extreme neutropenia (severe depletion of white cells probably indicating a viral etiology). A necropsy will be performed tomorrow afternoon. Samples have been taken, and more will be taken during the necropsy, to attempt to isolate the viral agent responsible for the disease process. 1/25 Necropsy on Mia revealed mild erosions in the second (glandular) stomach, enlarged liver, and large numbers of parasites in the blubber, urinary bladder (probably from kidneys), lungs, muscle areas of the neck, stomach, and intestinal tract. Otherwise, necropsy was unremarkable. Final diagnosis awaits pathology report and virus isolation which will take about two to three months.