A Case of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in a Bottlenose Dolphin(Tursiops truncatus) Calf

[摘要] References(18)Cited-By(1)Stillbirth and neonatal mortality are significant problems in captive breedingof dolphins, however, the causes of these problems are not fully understood. Here, wereport a case of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) in a male neonate of bottlenosedolphin (Tursiops truncates) who died immediately after birth. Atnecropsy, a true knot was found in the umbilical cord. The lungs showed diffuseintraalveolar edema, hyperemic congestion and atelectasis due to meconium aspiration withmild inflammatory cell infiltration. Although the exact cause of MAS in this case wasunknown, fetal hypoxia due possibly to the umbilical knot might have been associated withMAS, which is the first report in dolphins. MAS due to perinatal asphyxia should be takeninto account as a possible cause of neonatal mortality and stillbirth of dolphincalves.

[学科分类] 兽医学

[关键词] bottlenose dolphin;meconium aspiration;true knot;umbilical cord