VAGINAL CALCULI IN THE DOLPHIN Author(s): JOAN E. SAWYERWILLIAM A. WALKER Source: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 13(4):346-348. Published By: Wildlife Disease Association DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-13.4.346 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.7589/0090-3558-13.4.346
BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder.
BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.
346
Journal
VAGINAL JOAN
E. SAWYER,
Group San
Zoological
in
Physiology
Diego,
La Jolla,
WILLIAM Los
CALCULI
A.
Angeles,
THE
Society
of
92093,
WALKER,
Section
California
90007,
of
Diego
School
Mammalogy,
of the
October,
1977
Department
Medicine
M-012,
and University
of
California,
Natural
History
Museum
of
Los
Angeles
County,
reproductive
tract
of a mature
for
primarily
mature
spotted
dolphin,
of calcium Lagenorhynchus
Stenebla phosphate obbiquidens
escence showed these calculi to be composed primarily of calcium with lower concentrations of phosphorus, iron, zinc, strontium, chlorine, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and sulfur. The urinary stone analysis kit showed that these calculi did not contain uric acid or
yellowfin
Thunnus albacares, in the eastern Pacific in May, 1976. Vaginal of various sizes and numbers also been found in mature dolphins beach-stranded in southern Calibetween July, 1970, and August, (Table I)
tuna. tropical calculi have found fornia 1975.
MATERIALS
The
AND
METHODS
composition determined
was electron
and
fishery
13,
USA
Vaginal calculi previously have been described in De/phinus de/phis and D. bairdi by Harrison1, as masses containing both organic and inorganic material up to several centimeters in length. We found 13 calculi in a mature Stene/ba attenuata which was killed incidentally
seine
Vol.
USA
INTRODUCTION
purse
Diseases
Research of
revealed 13 vaginal calculi, composed Vaginal calculi also were found in two mature De/phinus deiphis.
in six
in the
Wildlife
DOLPHIN
San
Pharmacology,
California
Examination
Abstract: attenuata, compounds.
and
and
IN
of
of using
scanning,
a urinary
the vaginal calculi x-ray diffraction, x-ray
stone
analysis
fluorescence,
kit.
RESULTS
X-ray
diffraction
be composed pounds:
of
showed calcium
the phosphate
calculi
to
com1 5H2O,
Ca:AL( P04)8(OH)0 Ca(POi,CO:)3(OH), Ca5((P,S,Si)O4)3 (OH,CO;) and Ca5(PO4)3(OH). Electron scanning
showed
the
primary
composition
of the calculi to be calcium and phosphorus with smaller concentrations of magnesium. Dark areas on the surface of the calculi contained lead and iron in addition to the above elements. X-ray
FIGURE a sexually
1.
Thirteen mature
calculi StencIls
in
the
attenuata.
vagina
of
Journal
of
Wildlife
Diseases
Vol.
13,
October,
ed from coagulated seminal fluid. The vaginal sphincter in the dolphin forms a strong seal for the vagina; it is therefore conceivable that any uterine or vaginal secretion or residual seminal fluid might be trapped and inspissated within the vagina. X-ray diffraction analysis has shown the calculi to be composed of compounds identical to those found in mammalian bone. This leads us to believe that something other than cervical or seminal fluid is being trapped within the vagina. The cross sectional structure indicates that they were formed by concentric layer crystallization for an unknown time period. All the dolphins from which these vaginal calculi were obtained were sexually mature.
fluoroxalate. The 13 calculi in the above dolphin were approximately pyramidal in shape, the flat sides fitting together as in a mosaic to fill the entire vagina. (Fig. 1). The calculi were soft and crumbled on hard pressure. On section they appeared layered, with a center of crystalline nature. This dolphin was infected with larval Monoryga,na sp. throughout the external surfaces of its urinary bladder, uterus, and vagina. Histologic section of the vagina did not reveal any chronic inflammation. The uterus and bladder were normal. DISCUSSION
Harrison1 proposed that these calculi were remnants of vaginal plugs that had become impregnated with salts and form-
TABLE
1. Calculi
found
347
1977
in dolphins.
Length (cm)
Capture Stranding
Stenebba attenuata
175.0
5/76
Lagenorhynchus ob/iquidens
176.0
9/21/7
Lagenorhynchus obbiquidens
199.0
3/4/72
7 corpora albicantia in left ovary
3 calculi 1.5 cm x 0.5 cm
De/piiinus debphis
185.0
7/7/70
corpora present
1 calculus 3.5 cmx
De/plzinus
182.0
9/2/70
1 corpus
Delplzinus deiphis
190.5
6/6/71
corpora present
albicantia
De/piiinus debp/zis
182.0
8/8/7
pregnant;
fetus
.Debphinus delphis
172.0
8/12/72
3corporaalbicantia in left ovary
1 calculus 1.5cm x 0.5cm
Debpliinus de/phis
182.0
8/16/75
3corporaalbicantia in left ovary
S calculi
Species
or Date
1
Other
Reproductive Comments
Size
10 corpora albicantia in left ovary 3 corpora albicantia in right ovary
13 calculi average 2.89 g 2.5 cmx 1.4cm
9 corpora I corpus
2 calculi 2 cm x 0.8 cm
albicantia and luteum present
albicantia
albicantia
delphis
1
and Number of Calculi
(53 mm)
1.0cm
bead-like, diameter
0.5 cm
bead-like, diameter
0.5 cm
3 calculi 2.0 cm x 0.8 cm
1.0 cmx
0.5cm
348
Journal
of
Wildlife
providing
the
Diseases
Vol.
13,
October,
1977
Acknowledgements We
would
like
to
thank
Dr.
Drs. Ridgway and Yammamoto Dr. J. Abraham and R. La scanning and x-ray diffraction
LITERATURE
1.
W.
Perrin
for their Borde for techniques.
for x-ray their
fluorescence help on
the
specimen analysis. analysis
of
the
genus
We would also of the calculi
Stenella, like using
and
to thank electron
CITED
HARRISON,
R.
Biology
York.
of
Pp.
J. Marine
1969.
Reproduction Ed.
Ma,nma/s,
H.
and reproductive organs. In: T. Andersen, Academic Press,
271-273. Received
for publicatIon
6 June
1977
The
New
BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder.
BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.
346
Journal
VAGINAL JOAN
E. SAWYER,
Group San
Zoological
in
Physiology
Diego,
La Jolla,
WILLIAM Los
CALCULI
A.
Angeles,
THE
Society
of
92093,
WALKER,
Section
California
90007,
of
Diego
School
Mammalogy,
of the
October,
1977
Department
Medicine
M-012,
and University
of
California,
Natural
History
Museum
of
Los
Angeles
County,
reproductive
tract
of a mature
for
primarily
mature
spotted
dolphin,
of calcium Lagenorhynchus
Stenebla phosphate obbiquidens
escence showed these calculi to be composed primarily of calcium with lower concentrations of phosphorus, iron, zinc, strontium, chlorine, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and sulfur. The urinary stone analysis kit showed that these calculi did not contain uric acid or
yellowfin
Thunnus albacares, in the eastern Pacific in May, 1976. Vaginal of various sizes and numbers also been found in mature dolphins beach-stranded in southern Calibetween July, 1970, and August, (Table I)
tuna. tropical calculi have found fornia 1975.
MATERIALS
The
AND
METHODS
composition determined
was electron
and
fishery
13,
USA
Vaginal calculi previously have been described in De/phinus de/phis and D. bairdi by Harrison1, as masses containing both organic and inorganic material up to several centimeters in length. We found 13 calculi in a mature Stene/ba attenuata which was killed incidentally
seine
Vol.
USA
INTRODUCTION
purse
Diseases
Research of
revealed 13 vaginal calculi, composed Vaginal calculi also were found in two mature De/phinus deiphis.
in six
in the
Wildlife
DOLPHIN
San
Pharmacology,
California
Examination
Abstract: attenuata, compounds.
and
and
IN
of
of using
scanning,
a urinary
the vaginal calculi x-ray diffraction, x-ray
stone
analysis
fluorescence,
kit.
RESULTS
X-ray
diffraction
be composed pounds:
of
showed calcium
the phosphate
calculi
to
com1 5H2O,
Ca:AL( P04)8(OH)0 Ca(POi,CO:)3(OH), Ca5((P,S,Si)O4)3 (OH,CO;) and Ca5(PO4)3(OH). Electron scanning
showed
the
primary
composition
of the calculi to be calcium and phosphorus with smaller concentrations of magnesium. Dark areas on the surface of the calculi contained lead and iron in addition to the above elements. X-ray
FIGURE a sexually
1.
Thirteen mature
calculi StencIls
in
the
attenuata.
vagina
of
Journal
of
Wildlife
Diseases
Vol.
13,
October,
ed from coagulated seminal fluid. The vaginal sphincter in the dolphin forms a strong seal for the vagina; it is therefore conceivable that any uterine or vaginal secretion or residual seminal fluid might be trapped and inspissated within the vagina. X-ray diffraction analysis has shown the calculi to be composed of compounds identical to those found in mammalian bone. This leads us to believe that something other than cervical or seminal fluid is being trapped within the vagina. The cross sectional structure indicates that they were formed by concentric layer crystallization for an unknown time period. All the dolphins from which these vaginal calculi were obtained were sexually mature.
fluoroxalate. The 13 calculi in the above dolphin were approximately pyramidal in shape, the flat sides fitting together as in a mosaic to fill the entire vagina. (Fig. 1). The calculi were soft and crumbled on hard pressure. On section they appeared layered, with a center of crystalline nature. This dolphin was infected with larval Monoryga,na sp. throughout the external surfaces of its urinary bladder, uterus, and vagina. Histologic section of the vagina did not reveal any chronic inflammation. The uterus and bladder were normal. DISCUSSION
Harrison1 proposed that these calculi were remnants of vaginal plugs that had become impregnated with salts and form-
TABLE
1. Calculi
found
347
1977
in dolphins.
Length (cm)
Capture Stranding
Stenebba attenuata
175.0
5/76
Lagenorhynchus ob/iquidens
176.0
9/21/7
Lagenorhynchus obbiquidens
199.0
3/4/72
7 corpora albicantia in left ovary
3 calculi 1.5 cm x 0.5 cm
De/piiinus debphis
185.0
7/7/70
corpora present
1 calculus 3.5 cmx
De/plzinus
182.0
9/2/70
1 corpus
Delplzinus deiphis
190.5
6/6/71
corpora present
albicantia
De/piiinus debp/zis
182.0
8/8/7
pregnant;
fetus
.Debphinus delphis
172.0
8/12/72
3corporaalbicantia in left ovary
1 calculus 1.5cm x 0.5cm
Debpliinus de/phis
182.0
8/16/75
3corporaalbicantia in left ovary
S calculi
Species
or Date
1
Other
Reproductive Comments
Size
10 corpora albicantia in left ovary 3 corpora albicantia in right ovary
13 calculi average 2.89 g 2.5 cmx 1.4cm
9 corpora I corpus
2 calculi 2 cm x 0.8 cm
albicantia and luteum present
albicantia
albicantia
delphis
1
and Number of Calculi
(53 mm)
1.0cm
bead-like, diameter
0.5 cm
bead-like, diameter
0.5 cm
3 calculi 2.0 cm x 0.8 cm
1.0 cmx
0.5cm
348
Journal
of
Wildlife
providing
the
Diseases
Vol.
13,
October,
1977
Acknowledgements We
would
like
to
thank
Dr.
Drs. Ridgway and Yammamoto Dr. J. Abraham and R. La scanning and x-ray diffraction
LITERATURE
1.
W.
Perrin
for their Borde for techniques.
for x-ray their
fluorescence help on
the
specimen analysis. analysis
of
the
genus
We would also of the calculi
Stenella, like using
and
to thank electron
CITED
HARRISON,
R.
Biology
York.
of
Pp.
J. Marine
1969.
Reproduction Ed.
Ma,nma/s,
H.
and reproductive organs. In: T. Andersen, Academic Press,
271-273. Received
for publicatIon
6 June
1977
The
New
