TY - JOUR
T1 - Superficial cervical lymphadenitis associated with streptococcus phocae in five common bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus)
T2 - A case series
AU - Ross, Kyle
AU - Le-Bert, Carolina Ruiz
AU - Goe, Alexandra
AU - Meegan, Jenny
AU - Johnson, Shawn
AU - McClain, Abby
AU - Linnehan, Barbara
AU - Lutmerding, Elizabeth
AU - Gomez, Forrest
AU - Smith, Cynthia R.
AU - Ivančić, Marina
AU - Terio, Karen
AU - Colegrove, Kathleen
AU - Jensen, Eric
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/3/20
Y1 - 2023/3/20
N2 - Between 2009 and 2018, five common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at the US Navy Marine Mammal Program presented with superficial cervical lymphadenitis. Clinical findings included ultrasonographic evidence of cervical lymph node enlargement, severe leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and reduced serum iron. Three of the dolphins presented with clinicopathologic changes without presence of clinical signs, and the other two cases additionally presented with partial to complete anorexia, lethargy, and refusal to participate in training sessions. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration or biopsy of the affected lymph nodes yielded Streptococcus phocae by PCR in all cases, and the organism was cultured in one of five cases. Animals were treated with a combination of enteral, parenteral, intralesional antimicrobial, or a combination of those therapies and supportive care. Time to resolution of clinical disease ranged between 62 and 188 days. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Streptococcus phocae cervical lymphadenitis in cetaceans. Streptococcus phocae lymphadenitis should be a differential for cervical lymphadenopathy in this species, especially when associated with pronounced systemic inflammation and a history of potential exposure.
AB - Between 2009 and 2018, five common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at the US Navy Marine Mammal Program presented with superficial cervical lymphadenitis. Clinical findings included ultrasonographic evidence of cervical lymph node enlargement, severe leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and reduced serum iron. Three of the dolphins presented with clinicopathologic changes without presence of clinical signs, and the other two cases additionally presented with partial to complete anorexia, lethargy, and refusal to participate in training sessions. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration or biopsy of the affected lymph nodes yielded Streptococcus phocae by PCR in all cases, and the organism was cultured in one of five cases. Animals were treated with a combination of enteral, parenteral, intralesional antimicrobial, or a combination of those therapies and supportive care. Time to resolution of clinical disease ranged between 62 and 188 days. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Streptococcus phocae cervical lymphadenitis in cetaceans. Streptococcus phocae lymphadenitis should be a differential for cervical lymphadenopathy in this species, especially when associated with pronounced systemic inflammation and a history of potential exposure.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150965799&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85150965799&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1638/2022-0014
DO - 10.1638/2022-0014
M3 - Article
C2 - 36971645
AN - SCOPUS:85150965799
SN - 1042-7260
VL - 54
SP - 192
EP - 201
JO - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
JF - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
IS - 1
ER -