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DOLPHIN DIE-OFF, DOMOIC ACID - USA (CALIFORNIA) - 2 Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 10:58:30 -0500 (EST)
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promed.isid.harvard.edu>
Subject: PRO/AH> Dolphin die-off, domoic acid - USA (Calif.) (02)****************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED- mail, a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>Date: 28 Mar 2002
From: "Dr. Richard H. Evans" <snaver@cox.net>In response to the ProMED report of 23 Mar 2002 concerning a dolphin die-off in California [see ref. above], I would add the following:
FSL Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California received a stranded, 270 pound, adult, male Common Dolphin from the Los Angeles area, late evening on 17 Mar 2002 . Moderate seizure activity was noted during transport to the center. Physical examination revealed obvious, moderate to severe central nervous system (CNS) pathology with visual and locomotor deficits. Blood work revealed moderately to severely deranged electrolytes (very low potassium). Since the animal's condition failed to respond to standard therapies for stranded animals and continued to deteriorate, euthanasia was elected.
A thorough and complete gross postmortem examination failed to reveal any significant lesions. The gastrointestinal tract was completely empty. A clean spinal tap was perform 2 minutes after euthanasia and about 3ml of very flocculent fluid was obtained. Analysis of the sample failed to reveal any cellular or biochemical abnormalities but cytologically did show large amount of proteinaceous-like material present (myelin?).
Histopathologic examination of a wide survey of tissues including the brain is underway at present.
Urine was submitted to Marine Biotoxin Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina (SC) and found to contain high levels of domoic acid (1 microgram/ml). We were informed by the lab that samples taken from at least one of the other dolphins mentioned in the ProMED report had the same level of domoic acid in the urine.
I should also note that in January of this year [2002] we received 2 adult female California sea lions with severe neurological disease whose urine was also positive for domoic acid (0.01 and 1.0 microgram/ml). Histopathologic examination is presently being conducted on these samples.
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Richard H. Evans, DVM, MS
Medical Director/Pathologist
FSL Marine Mammal Center
Laguna Beach CA
snaver@cox.net>>