Case Synopsis for MML9809-B aka FB 11  aka  Holly aka GW98011A

Species: Steno bredanensis (rough-toothed dolphin)
Age Class: Adult			Gender: Female
Date Stranded: 29 Dec 98		
Location of Stranding: Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Date of Arrival at MML: 30 Dec 98
Number of Days of Care: 78
Final Disposition: Euthanized on 16 Mar 99		
Cause of Death: Gastrointestinal disease, cardiac fibrosis.  Possible viral etiology being investigated (perhaps related to equine viral arteritis).


Herc and Holly were two of four dolphins from a mass stranding of 12 individuals that were transported to the DWH from the Florida panhandle.  Two of the dolphins died enroute.  Holly was extremely critical initially with severe pneumonia.  Treated with antibiotics and antifungal medications.  Holly responded to treatment  and did well until early February when she exhibited gastrointestinal problems for a two-week period.  Her condition improved until mid March, when she took a sharp downward trend (gastritis, rectal gas, abdominal pain/cramping, vomiting, diarrhea).  Despite all efforts her condition worsened and she was humanely euthanized on 16 March.  Necropsy revealed severe intestinal disease, heart disease with a possible viral etiology- conditions similar to Herc.

Lessons
1)  This case shows similarities with the mass stranding (MML9711 A-D) a year ago in approximately the same location.  Serology supports a viral etiology, related to equine viral arteritis, in both stranding events.
2) Tissue samples need to be taken for virus isolation, electron microscopy whenever new diseases are suspected (some preserved frozen at - 70 C and some fixed in gluteraldehyde).
3) Banking extra serum samples was critical for retrospective studies.  Save extra serum from early and late in the rehabilitation process.

Publication
Manire, C. A., H. L. Rhinehart.  In press.  "Use of human recombinant erythropoietin for the treatment of nonregenerative anemia in the rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis."  Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.  2000

Presentations
Manire, C. A., and H. L. Rhinehart.  "The use of human recombinant erythropoietin for the treatment of nonregenerative anemia in the rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis."  Oral presentation at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine 30th annual conference, Boston, MA.  1999.

Rhinehart, H. L., C. A. Manire, J. D. Buck, P. Cunningham-Smith, and D. R. Smith.  "Observations and rehabilitation of rough-toothed dolphins, Steno bredanensis, treated at Mote Marine Laboratory from two separate stranding events."  Poster presentation at the 13th biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Maui, HI.  1999.