Postmortem Findings From Dugong (Dugong Dugon) Submissions to the University of Queensland: 1997–2010

Owen, Helen; A, Gillespie; Wilkie, Ian

doi:10.7589/2011-03-080

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The most common cause of eosinophilia in domestic species is parasitism. Moderate to high burdens of gastrointestinal ascarids ( Paradujardinia halicoris ) and lesser levels of infestation with other gastrointestinal and respiratory parasites are often present in dugongs inhabiting the urbanized coastline of southern Queensland (J.M.L., unpublished data) . Fecal egg counts (FEC) were performed on dugongs examined in 2011.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Severe weather events that affect water quality and seagrass growth have also taken their toll on dugongs. Opportunistic necropsies of dugong carcasses washed ashore in Queensland, Australia, have provided some information regarding antemortem health status but for a significant proportion of animals, the cause of death has not been determined . Suggested factors contributing to mortality include specific ( Cryptosporidium parvum , Toxoplasma gondii ) and nonspecific (septicemia, pneumonia) infectious etiologies, and some carcasses indicate exposure to pollutants (eg, heavy metals, organochlorides) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hematology of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in southern Queensland

Woolford

Wong

Sneath

et al. 2015

Veterinary Clinical Pathol

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Background: Little is known of the hematology of the dugong (Dugong dugon), a secretive and endangered coastal marine mammal. Objectives: This paper reports hematologic reference intervals (RI) for dugongs and characterizes morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural features of dugong leukocytes. Methods: Blood was collected from live, apparently healthy dugongs and analyzed using Cell-Dyn 3700 or Sysmex XT-2000iV hematology analyzers. Blood films were subjected to a series of cytochemical stains, and leukocyte structure was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Results: Reference intervals were established for 14 hematologic variables, total solids, and fibrinogen for 92 dugongs. Significant differences in some variables were found for animal size class, sex, and pregnancy status, and between analyzers. Subadults had higher leukocyte and lymphocyte counts than adults. Males had higher total solids and fibrinogen than females. Pregnant females had higher HCT, MCV, and circulating nucleated RBC, and lower platelet counts than nonpregnant females. Lymphocytes were usually the predominant circulating leukocyte. Heterophil cytoplasmic granules were abundant, fine, round to ovoid, and intensely eosinophilic, and round to ovoid or rod-shaped, and variably electron dense in electron microscopy. Eosinophils contained larger round eosinophilic to orange cytoplasmic granules, which ultrastructurally were bicompartmental with a round eccentric electron-dense core. Cytochemical staining of dugong heterophils suggests biochemical similarity to those of manatees and elephants, and for eosinophils, similarity to those of elephants, ruminants, and equids. Conclusions: Generation of hematologic RI and characterization of leukocyte morphology improves evaluation of dugong health across this population and serves as a reference for other populations outside southern Queensland.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hematology of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in southern Queensland

Woolford

Wong

Sneath

et al. 2015

Veterinary Clinical Pathol

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“…In an attempt to address this deficit and assess the potential contribution of CSS to overall mortality, we retrospectively examined dugong case files submitted to The University of Queensland School of Veteri-nary Sciences' Department of Pathology (Owen et al 2012). The causes of mortality were investigated by standard port mortem examination for all carcasses submitted through the Veterinary-Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation unit by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection's (DEHP) StrandNet program since 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of sirenian cold stress syndrome in dugongs Dugong dugon from southeast Queensland, Australia

Owen¹,

Flint²,

Limpus³

et al. 2013

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Cold stress syndrome (CSS) is the term used to describe the range of clinical signs and chronic disease processes that can occur in Florida, USA, manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris exposed to water temperatures below 20°C for extended periods. Although no cold-related adverse events have been described in the closely related dugong Dugong dugon thus far, it has been established that they make movements in response to water temperatures lower than about 17 to 18°C. In this study, archive reports for dugong carcasses submitted to The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science for post mortem examination during 2010 to 2012 were examined. These animals had been recovered from Moreton Bay, southeast Queensland, Australia, and 10 out of 14 fulfilled the criteria for 'potential cold stress cases.' Epidermal hyperplasia and secondary bacterial infection, serous atrophy of pericardial adipose tissue, and multisystem abscessation were features commonly noted in these cases. Water temperature data were correlated with the time of year that carcasses were submitted for examination. Higher numbers of carcasses diagnosed with potential CSS were noted during sustained periods in which water temperature was below 20°C. Given the pattern of increased submission of non-specifically, chronically unwell animals in the colder months and evidence that environmental conditions known to precipitate CSS occur in southeast Queensland, it is probable that, like manatees, dugongs in this area are affected by CSS. Further investigation to confirm and to better characterize the syndrome is recommended to refine management practices and improve treatment of affected animals.

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“…Pathological surveys conducted in Queensland have identified trauma (particularly boat strike and net entanglement), bacterial pneumonia, septicaemia and salmonellosis as primary or contributing causes of death (Elliott et al 1981, Owen et al 2012, Nielsen et al 2013. A wide spectrum of trematode-associated disease is frequently reported in dugongs (Blair 1981, Ladds 2009, along with confirmed incidences of Cryptosporidium parvum (Hill et al 1997, Morgan et al 2000 and Toxoplasma gondii (Greenland & Limpus 2010, Owen et al 2012.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from these few studies, cause of death has not been determined in a large proportion of dugong carcasses examined (Greenland & Limpus 2010, Owen et al 2012; investigations can be hindered by advanced decomposition of salvaged carcasses, and are often hampered by limited available information on dugong health, physiology and response to diseases (Elliott et al 1981, Eros et al 2007, Ladds 2009, as well as a paucity of knowledge of lesions commonly found in otherwise healthy dugongs. In some cases, extrapolations of symptoms have been made to closely related species within the order Sirenia (Rowlatt & Marsh 1985, Ladds 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathological findings in wild harvested dugongs Dugong dugon of central Torres Strait, Australia

Woolford

Franklin²,

Whap³

et al. 2015

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The dugong Dugong dugon is classified as Vulnerable to extinction but may be endangered in some regions. Cause of death in stranded dugongs has not been determined in a large proportion of animals examined, with investigations hindered by limited information on dugong health and diseases, and paucity of knowledge of common or endemic pathological findings. Here we describe pathological findings in harvested dugongs from the relatively pristine area of central Torres Strait, and we characterise lesions attributable to drowning. Other recorded lesions were mild and predominated by host reaction to the presence of trematodes within the gastrointestinal tracts, liver and pancreas. Ascarid worm burdens were low in comparison to dugongs from developed coastlines. Hepatocellular lipofuscin and ferritin pigmentation were commonly observed, more pronounced in livers of older animals and concurrent with periportal and bridging fibrosis. Lesions attributable to drowning included incomplete collapse of lungs, dorsal or diffuse pulmonary congestion, mild intra-alveolar haemorrhage and oedema, mild interstitial oedema and rupture of peripheral alveolar septae with acute myofibre fragmentation and degeneration. No accumulation of foam or aspiration of water or particulate matter was observed, suggesting that dugongs 'dry drown'. Morphometric features of normal spleen are also presented. Characterisation of common pathological findings and those attributable to drowning in this species will aid in the interpretation of post mortem findings for the significant number of dugongs found deceased along urbanised coastlines.

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Postmortem Findings From Dugong (Dugong Dugon) Submissions to the University of Queensland: 1997–2010

Cited by 14 publications

References 16 publications

Hematology of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in southern Queensland

Hematology of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in southern Queensland

Evidence of sirenian cold stress syndrome in dugongs Dugong dugon from southeast Queensland, Australia

Pathological findings in wild harvested dugongs Dugong dugon of central Torres Strait, Australia

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