Case Synopsis for MML 9519 aka Benny aka Benny Hill aka VMSM951047 aka MMES 95142NC


Species: Tursiops truncatus (offshore stock) (bottlenose dolphin)
Age Class: Calf-Juvenile (~ 1 yr at stranding)			Gender: Male
Date Stranded: 19 Sep 1995
Location of Stranding:  Corolla, NC
Date of Arrival at MML: 20 Oct 1995
Number of Days of Care: 32 at NMFS-NC, 98 at MML; 130 total
Final Disposition: Euthanized on 26 Jan 1996
Findings: Enterocolitis (pseudomembranous) leading to intestinal infarct and enterotoxemia.  Immunocompromised.  Incidental finding of intestinal microsporidia.

Benny stranded in NC and was taken to the NMFS Lab in Beaufort.  Initial diagnosis included a likely bacterial infection (neutrophilia, thrombocytopenia) and liver disease/trauma.  The dolphin was inappetant and unable to swim.  Started on antibiotics and oral fluids.  Began eating on 30 September, swimming on 1 October.  Developed a subcutaneous emphysema ~ 15 October which slowly improved but never resolved, cause unknown.  Hepatitis=neg, morbillivirus=neg.  Due to inadequate facilities, Benny was flown to MML by Coastguard on 20 Oct.

The dolphin had periods of activity and lethargy, marked, chronic flatulence, and occasional vomiting throughout treatment.  Multiple courses of antibitotics, antifungals, anti protozoals were administered.  Bronchoalveolar lavage performed on 28 Sep and 9 Dec. (reults inconclusive, contamination likely).  Immune panel and protein electrophoresis results demonstrated immunocompromise developed late in the case.  The dolphin was euthanized and the necropsy revealed severe intestinal disease.

Lessons:
1- Multiple courses of antibiotics may have resulted in pseudomembraneous colitis.
2- Methods of diagnosing colitis need to be improved (colonoscopy?)
3- Immune status should be evaluated to guide decision-making
4- This animal became dependent on humans for support and probably would never have begun swimming if not forced to do so.
5- Struggling during stomach tubing may have caused the SQ emphysema; additional restraint to minimize struggling is needed.

Publication
Hawkins, E. C., F. I. Townsend, G. A. Lewbart, M. A. Stamper, V. G. Thayer, and H. L. Rhinehart.  "Bronchoalveolar lavage in a dolphin."  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.  Vol. 211, No. 7, October, 1997.  Pp 901-904.

Presentation
Rhinehart, H. L., F. I townsend, R. M. Overstreet, G. S. Visvesvara, A. da Silva, and N. J. Pieniazek.  "First report of microsporidiosis in the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus."  Oral presentation at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, 27th annual conference, Chatanooga, TN, 1996.