No abstract

Morbillivirus infection is widespread among odontocetes of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Serologic evidence of infection in bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, was first detected during an epizootic along the mid‐Atlantic coast in 1987. Here, we report recurrent epizootics in the coastal dolphin population since at least the early 1980s based on serological surveys and regional stranding frequencies. The first observed epizootic of this series occurred in the Indian and Banana Rivers in 1982 and was followed by others on the mid‐Atlantic coast in 1987–1988 and in the Gulf of Mexico between 1992 and 1994. This temporal pattern of infection is likely facilitated by the population size and its fragmentation into relatively discrete coastal communities. Introduction of morbillivirus into a community with a sufficient number of naive hosts may precipitate an epizootic, depending on the potential for transmission within the group. Propagation of an epizootic along the coast is probably determined by frequency of contact between adjacent communities and seasonal migrations. Morbillivirus antibodies were also detected in serum from offshore bottlenose dolphins. The sero‐prevalence in the latter may be higher than in coastal dolphins because of their close association with enzootically infected pilot whales (Globicephala spp.). Occasional contact between offshore and coastal dolphins may provide an epizootiologic link between pilot whales and coastal dolphin communities.

P Pu ur rp po os se e: : The purpose of this single-centre database review was to establish the incidence of failure to intubate by direct laryngoscopy, to measure morbidity and mortality associated with this event, and to examine the use and efficacy of alternative airway devices. M Me et th ho od ds s: : Difficult intubation via direct laryngoscopy at Mayo ClinicRochester is recorded in an electronic database using a functional classification: 0 = no difficulty; 1 = mild to moderate difficulty; and 2 = severe difficulty often requiring a change in intubation technique. Using this database, the total number of intubations was determined for a selected review period and the incidence of failure to intubate by direct laryngoscopy was established. Abstraction of chart data allowed for determination of associated morbidity and mortality, success of alternative airway devices, and case cancellation rate.

Hematologic findings were generally similar between captive and free-ranging manatees. Higher manual reticulocyte counts suggest the ADVIA detects only reticulocytes containing large amounts of RNA. Higher reticulocyte and NRBC counts in young calves probably reflect an increased rate of erythropoiesis compared with older animals.