CASE REPORT PULMONARY NEMATODIASIS IN A NARWHALE A. C. MACNEIL, J. L. NEUFELD AND W. A. WEBsTER*
Introduction Pulmonary nematodiasis in whales and other marine mammals is a common finding (2, 4, 6, 8). Due to the limited availability of narwhale (Monodon monoceros) specimens, there are few parastiological references to this species (6). This report presents the clinical and laboratory findings of lung disease in a female narwhale from the Milne Inlet area on the northeast coast of Baffin Island, Northwest Territories.
The narwhale was force-fed until early October, when it commenced eating voluntarily. It was then treated with thiabendazole at the rate of 5 mg/100 lbs body weight. By midOctober, the animal was eating well, was active, alert, and the respiration rate was normal. On several occasions, a throaty rattling sound was heard from the blowhole, which was accompanied by the expulsion of white frothy mucus. Exhaled air was occasionally noted to be fetid and foul smelling. On November 6, 1970, the cow went slightly off feed. A blood sample showed an abnormally high neutrophil stab count (Table I). Blood examinations on November 11 and 14 also revealed high numbers of stab forms, suggesting an ongoing infection. Toxic neutrophils were present in the blood sample taken on November 14. Antibiotic, chemotherapeutic, and supportive therapy was instituted on November 6. The drugs were administered either orally, intramuscularly, or by the intravenous route, the choice dependent on vagaries of the cow's appetite. The choice of antibacterial therapy was based on antibiotic sensitivity tests done on the organisms (Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Alcaligenes faecalis) isolated from samples of blowhole exhalent and tank water. The animal died on November 15, 1970.
Clincial History The affected animal was one of six narwhales captured in August 1970, and kept in a quarantine area with a separate water supply at the Vancouver Public Aquarium. Upon arrival at the Aquarium, the narwhale was anoretic and exhibited extensive lacerations to the tail stock and fluke surfaces. Treatment at this time consisted of the intramuscular administration of a mixture containing benzathine penicillin G 1,000,000 IU, procaine penicillin G 100,000 IU, dihydrostreptomycin (as sulfate) 250 mg, and prednisolone acetate 10 mg. The dosage was 2 cc/150 lbs body weight administered every 48 hours for ten days. Local treatment to the lacerated tail stock and fluke surfaces consisted of the debridement of unhealthy tissue and application of a liquid preparation containing chloramphenicol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and methyl violet. On two occasions, copper sulfate was added to Gross Pathology the tank water at the rate of 15 lbs/80,000 Lacerations on the tail stock and fluke surgallons of water to promote healing, induce face were partially healed. The liver, kidney, sloughing, and to act as an astringent. spleen, genital, and gastrointestinal tracts were normal. The musculature of the thoracic and abdominal areas was thin and wasted. The *Animal Pathology Division, Health of Animals heart was normal in size, but pale and flabby. Branch, Agriculture Canada, Animal Pathology The lungs were firm, and a white frothy Laboratory, 3802 West Fourth Avenue, Vancouver, material exuded from cut surfaces. The right B.C. V6R lP5 (MacNeill) and Animal Pathology lung was collapsed, dark red-brown in colour Division, Health of Animals Branch, Agriculture with marked atelectasis. Vomitus was present Canada, Animal Diseases Research Institute (E), in the bronchi. Particles of aspirated foreign P.O. Box 11300, Postal Station "H", Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P9 (Neufeld and Webster). Dr. Neu- material were discernible and palpable as small feld's present address is Veterinary Services Branch, nodules under the pleura, but was not colManitoba Department of Agriculture, Veterinary lapsed or as severely affected as the right lung. Laboratory, Agricultural Services Complex, Uni- The stomach was full of food from the last versity of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. feeding 48 hours prior to death. 53
CAN. VET. JOUR., vol. 16, no. 2, February, 1975
CANADIAN VE R1NARY JOURNAL
TABLE I DIFFERENTIAL BLOOD CELL COUNTS*
Nov. 6, 1970 Absolute
Nov. 11, 1970
%
Absolute
%
Nov. 14, 1970 Absolute %
Total Leukocytes 7900 9100 7200 Neutrophils 3950 50 5256 73 3549 Stabs 1185 15 2821 1296 18 Lymphocytes 1975 25 504 7 2093 Monocytes 553 7 2 144 637 237 Eosinophils 3 0 0 0 *Expressed in absolute numbers per cmm of blood and in percent of the total count.
39 31 23 7 0
-X
FIGURE 2. Lungworm cross sections in the lung of a narwhale. The surrounding cellular reaction, combined with connective tissue, forms a nodule just beneath the pleura. H&E. X200.
rophages were in occasional alveoli. Many bronchioles contained sero-cellular exudate as well as bacterial colonies and sections of nematodes. The nematodes were primarily located in air passages and terminal bronchioles (Figure 1). Portions of degenerating parasites in bronchioles and subpleural sites were surrounded by a moderate inflammatory reaction (Figure 2) and multinucleated Langhans-type giant cells, but eosinophils were absent.
FiGURE 1. Adult lungworms in the air passages of a narwhale. Note the sero-cellular exudate in the bronchiole and hypercellularity of the surrounding pulmonary parenchyma. H&E. X 150.
Histopathology Numerous tissues fixed in 10% formol-saline were examined. Significant lesions were confined to the respiratory system, where diffuse pulmonary congestion and atelectasis with thickening and hypercellularity of alveolar septae were evident. Infiltrating cells were primarily mononuclear leukocytes and histocytes. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mac-
Parasitology One nematode larva was observed in a fecal flotation of feces collected while the animal 54
NEMATODIASIS
was alive. No intestinal parasites were recovered at postmortem examination. No nematodes were observed in the frothy exudate expelled from the blowhole before or after death. Formalized lung tissue was examined, and nematode specimens were removed and identified as Halocercus monoceris (7).
Resume
Les auteurs ont diagnostique un cas de pneumonie vermineuse attribuable au nematode Halocercus monoceris, chez un narval femelle qu'on gardait en captivite. Acknowledgments The authors wish to express appreciation to the following persons: Dr. Murray Newman, Director of the Vancouver Aquarium, who provided staff and facilities; Mr. Gil Hewlett, Curator of the Vancouver Aquarium, for personal assistance; Dr. R. D. English, Director of Laboratories, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, for advice and use of facili-
Discussion Parasitological and pathological examinations indicated pulmonary nematodiasis with secondary aspiration pneumonia. The lack of eosinophils in histological sections agreed with the differential counts, in which eosinophils did not exceed 3% and was 0 in the last two samples (Table I). A variable content in inflammatory reactions has also been shown in sea lions infected with Parafilaroides decoris. Fleischman and Squire (3) found an admixture of eosinophils and other cells in a specific ration and also found numerous neutrophils and eosinophils adjacent to degenerating and necrotic lungworm adults, while Morales and Hemboldt (5) found an almost complete absence of eosinophils in the inflammatory reaction in a nine-month-old sea lion. The narwhale was presumed to have been infected with lungworms prior to capture, as there was no contact with other species of marine mammals in the Aquarium, and the water supply was separate. Infection via feed was unlikely, as fish fed to the animal were frozen and stored at -290C (-200F), eliminating the chances of food-acquired parasitism
ties.
References 1. BAYLIS, H. A. and R. DAUBNEY. A revision of the lungworms of catacea. Parasitology 17: 201-216. 1925. 2. COWAN, D. F. Pathology of the pilot whale. Globicephala melaena. Archs Path. 82: 178189. 1966. 3. FLEISCHMAN, R. W. and R. A. SQUIRE. Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion. (Zalophus californianus). Pathologia vet. 7: 89-101. 1970. 4. MICAKI, G., D. VAN DYKE and R. D. HUBBARD. Some histopathological lesions caused by helminths in marine mammals. J. Wildl. Dis. 7: 281-289. 1971. 5. MORALES, G. A. and C. F. HELMBOLDT. Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). J. Wildl. Dis. 7: 22-27. 1971. 6. RIDGEWAY, S. H. Mammals of the Sea, Biology and Medicine. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 1972. 7. WEBSTER, W. A., J. L. NEUFELD and A. C. MACNEILL. Halocercus monoceris sp. n. (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) from the narwhale, Monodon monoceros. Proc. helminth Soc. Wash. 40: 255-258. 1973. 8. Wu, H. W. On Halocercus pingi n. sp. a lungworm from the porpoise, Neomeris phocoenoides. J. Parasit. 15: 276-279. 1929.
(6). Summary The occurrence of lungworm (Halocercus monoceris) infection in a captive female narwhale is described.
ABSTRACT An immunologic test for bovine lymphosarcoma. A. C. Hollinshead and V. E. 0. Valli (Dept. Path., Ont. Vet. Coll., Guelph, Ontario.).
bovine lymphosarcoma was subjected to membrane separation by a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific areas from this separation were used as a delayed hypersensitivity skin test in cattle to detect cases of lymphosarcoma. The test appears to have specificity and precision in a small group of animals tested.
Tumor specific antigens have been identified in neoplasms of human breast, lung, liver and colon. Precise separation of these antigens allows their use as specific immunologic tests for cancer. A lymph node from a cow with
Research Rostrum of the Twenty-sixth Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention, Guelph, Ontario 1974. 55
Introduction Pulmonary nematodiasis in whales and other marine mammals is a common finding (2, 4, 6, 8). Due to the limited availability of narwhale (Monodon monoceros) specimens, there are few parastiological references to this species (6). This report presents the clinical and laboratory findings of lung disease in a female narwhale from the Milne Inlet area on the northeast coast of Baffin Island, Northwest Territories.
The narwhale was force-fed until early October, when it commenced eating voluntarily. It was then treated with thiabendazole at the rate of 5 mg/100 lbs body weight. By midOctober, the animal was eating well, was active, alert, and the respiration rate was normal. On several occasions, a throaty rattling sound was heard from the blowhole, which was accompanied by the expulsion of white frothy mucus. Exhaled air was occasionally noted to be fetid and foul smelling. On November 6, 1970, the cow went slightly off feed. A blood sample showed an abnormally high neutrophil stab count (Table I). Blood examinations on November 11 and 14 also revealed high numbers of stab forms, suggesting an ongoing infection. Toxic neutrophils were present in the blood sample taken on November 14. Antibiotic, chemotherapeutic, and supportive therapy was instituted on November 6. The drugs were administered either orally, intramuscularly, or by the intravenous route, the choice dependent on vagaries of the cow's appetite. The choice of antibacterial therapy was based on antibiotic sensitivity tests done on the organisms (Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Alcaligenes faecalis) isolated from samples of blowhole exhalent and tank water. The animal died on November 15, 1970.
Clincial History The affected animal was one of six narwhales captured in August 1970, and kept in a quarantine area with a separate water supply at the Vancouver Public Aquarium. Upon arrival at the Aquarium, the narwhale was anoretic and exhibited extensive lacerations to the tail stock and fluke surfaces. Treatment at this time consisted of the intramuscular administration of a mixture containing benzathine penicillin G 1,000,000 IU, procaine penicillin G 100,000 IU, dihydrostreptomycin (as sulfate) 250 mg, and prednisolone acetate 10 mg. The dosage was 2 cc/150 lbs body weight administered every 48 hours for ten days. Local treatment to the lacerated tail stock and fluke surfaces consisted of the debridement of unhealthy tissue and application of a liquid preparation containing chloramphenicol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and methyl violet. On two occasions, copper sulfate was added to Gross Pathology the tank water at the rate of 15 lbs/80,000 Lacerations on the tail stock and fluke surgallons of water to promote healing, induce face were partially healed. The liver, kidney, sloughing, and to act as an astringent. spleen, genital, and gastrointestinal tracts were normal. The musculature of the thoracic and abdominal areas was thin and wasted. The *Animal Pathology Division, Health of Animals heart was normal in size, but pale and flabby. Branch, Agriculture Canada, Animal Pathology The lungs were firm, and a white frothy Laboratory, 3802 West Fourth Avenue, Vancouver, material exuded from cut surfaces. The right B.C. V6R lP5 (MacNeill) and Animal Pathology lung was collapsed, dark red-brown in colour Division, Health of Animals Branch, Agriculture with marked atelectasis. Vomitus was present Canada, Animal Diseases Research Institute (E), in the bronchi. Particles of aspirated foreign P.O. Box 11300, Postal Station "H", Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P9 (Neufeld and Webster). Dr. Neu- material were discernible and palpable as small feld's present address is Veterinary Services Branch, nodules under the pleura, but was not colManitoba Department of Agriculture, Veterinary lapsed or as severely affected as the right lung. Laboratory, Agricultural Services Complex, Uni- The stomach was full of food from the last versity of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. feeding 48 hours prior to death. 53
CAN. VET. JOUR., vol. 16, no. 2, February, 1975
CANADIAN VE R1NARY JOURNAL
TABLE I DIFFERENTIAL BLOOD CELL COUNTS*
Nov. 6, 1970 Absolute
Nov. 11, 1970
%
Absolute
%
Nov. 14, 1970 Absolute %
Total Leukocytes 7900 9100 7200 Neutrophils 3950 50 5256 73 3549 Stabs 1185 15 2821 1296 18 Lymphocytes 1975 25 504 7 2093 Monocytes 553 7 2 144 637 237 Eosinophils 3 0 0 0 *Expressed in absolute numbers per cmm of blood and in percent of the total count.
39 31 23 7 0
-X
FIGURE 2. Lungworm cross sections in the lung of a narwhale. The surrounding cellular reaction, combined with connective tissue, forms a nodule just beneath the pleura. H&E. X200.
rophages were in occasional alveoli. Many bronchioles contained sero-cellular exudate as well as bacterial colonies and sections of nematodes. The nematodes were primarily located in air passages and terminal bronchioles (Figure 1). Portions of degenerating parasites in bronchioles and subpleural sites were surrounded by a moderate inflammatory reaction (Figure 2) and multinucleated Langhans-type giant cells, but eosinophils were absent.
FiGURE 1. Adult lungworms in the air passages of a narwhale. Note the sero-cellular exudate in the bronchiole and hypercellularity of the surrounding pulmonary parenchyma. H&E. X 150.
Histopathology Numerous tissues fixed in 10% formol-saline were examined. Significant lesions were confined to the respiratory system, where diffuse pulmonary congestion and atelectasis with thickening and hypercellularity of alveolar septae were evident. Infiltrating cells were primarily mononuclear leukocytes and histocytes. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mac-
Parasitology One nematode larva was observed in a fecal flotation of feces collected while the animal 54
NEMATODIASIS
was alive. No intestinal parasites were recovered at postmortem examination. No nematodes were observed in the frothy exudate expelled from the blowhole before or after death. Formalized lung tissue was examined, and nematode specimens were removed and identified as Halocercus monoceris (7).
Resume
Les auteurs ont diagnostique un cas de pneumonie vermineuse attribuable au nematode Halocercus monoceris, chez un narval femelle qu'on gardait en captivite. Acknowledgments The authors wish to express appreciation to the following persons: Dr. Murray Newman, Director of the Vancouver Aquarium, who provided staff and facilities; Mr. Gil Hewlett, Curator of the Vancouver Aquarium, for personal assistance; Dr. R. D. English, Director of Laboratories, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, for advice and use of facili-
Discussion Parasitological and pathological examinations indicated pulmonary nematodiasis with secondary aspiration pneumonia. The lack of eosinophils in histological sections agreed with the differential counts, in which eosinophils did not exceed 3% and was 0 in the last two samples (Table I). A variable content in inflammatory reactions has also been shown in sea lions infected with Parafilaroides decoris. Fleischman and Squire (3) found an admixture of eosinophils and other cells in a specific ration and also found numerous neutrophils and eosinophils adjacent to degenerating and necrotic lungworm adults, while Morales and Hemboldt (5) found an almost complete absence of eosinophils in the inflammatory reaction in a nine-month-old sea lion. The narwhale was presumed to have been infected with lungworms prior to capture, as there was no contact with other species of marine mammals in the Aquarium, and the water supply was separate. Infection via feed was unlikely, as fish fed to the animal were frozen and stored at -290C (-200F), eliminating the chances of food-acquired parasitism
ties.
References 1. BAYLIS, H. A. and R. DAUBNEY. A revision of the lungworms of catacea. Parasitology 17: 201-216. 1925. 2. COWAN, D. F. Pathology of the pilot whale. Globicephala melaena. Archs Path. 82: 178189. 1966. 3. FLEISCHMAN, R. W. and R. A. SQUIRE. Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion. (Zalophus californianus). Pathologia vet. 7: 89-101. 1970. 4. MICAKI, G., D. VAN DYKE and R. D. HUBBARD. Some histopathological lesions caused by helminths in marine mammals. J. Wildl. Dis. 7: 281-289. 1971. 5. MORALES, G. A. and C. F. HELMBOLDT. Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). J. Wildl. Dis. 7: 22-27. 1971. 6. RIDGEWAY, S. H. Mammals of the Sea, Biology and Medicine. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 1972. 7. WEBSTER, W. A., J. L. NEUFELD and A. C. MACNEILL. Halocercus monoceris sp. n. (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) from the narwhale, Monodon monoceros. Proc. helminth Soc. Wash. 40: 255-258. 1973. 8. Wu, H. W. On Halocercus pingi n. sp. a lungworm from the porpoise, Neomeris phocoenoides. J. Parasit. 15: 276-279. 1929.
(6). Summary The occurrence of lungworm (Halocercus monoceris) infection in a captive female narwhale is described.
ABSTRACT An immunologic test for bovine lymphosarcoma. A. C. Hollinshead and V. E. 0. Valli (Dept. Path., Ont. Vet. Coll., Guelph, Ontario.).
bovine lymphosarcoma was subjected to membrane separation by a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific areas from this separation were used as a delayed hypersensitivity skin test in cattle to detect cases of lymphosarcoma. The test appears to have specificity and precision in a small group of animals tested.
Tumor specific antigens have been identified in neoplasms of human breast, lung, liver and colon. Precise separation of these antigens allows their use as specific immunologic tests for cancer. A lymph node from a cow with
Research Rostrum of the Twenty-sixth Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention, Guelph, Ontario 1974. 55
