Case Report: Ambergris coprolite and septicemia in a male sperm whale stranded in La Palma (Canary Islands)

On the 21st of May 2023, a dead adult male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) of 13 m in length and estimated weight of around 18,000 kg was reportedly stranded at Playa Los Nogales, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. A necropsy was performed 48hpm. A 50 cm diameter and 9.5 kg coprolite was found ob...

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Published inFrontiers in veterinary science Vol. 11; p. 1388276
Main Authors Fernández, Antonio, Suárez-Santana, Cristian, Alonso-Almorox, Paula, Consoli, Francesco Achille, Suárez González, Zuleima, Molpeceres-Diego, Ignacio, Iglesias González, Claudia, Hernández, Marta Lorente, Pérez, Amaranta Hugo, Martín-Barrasa, José Luis, Llorente, Laura Iglesias, Medina, Félix M, Guzmán, Raiden Grandía, Rueda, Diego Llinás, Arbelo, Manuel, Sierra, Eva
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.01.2024
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Summary:On the 21st of May 2023, a dead adult male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) of 13 m in length and estimated weight of around 18,000 kg was reportedly stranded at Playa Los Nogales, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. A necropsy was performed 48hpm. A 50 cm diameter and 9.5 kg coprolite was found obstructing the caudal colon-rectal lumen. Necro-hemorrhagic lesions were found in heart muscles and three different bacteria of intestinal origin were isolated and identified (Edwarsiella tarda, Hathewaya limosa and Clostridium perfringens). It is reported a lethal septicemia of intestinal origin associated with ambergris coprolite as cause of death in this sperm whale.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Case Study-2
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ISSN:2297-1769
2297-1769
DOI:10.3389/fvets.2024.1388276