Some parasitic diseases of dolphins

Lungworm infection ( Halocercus sp.) in the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus) was found to be very common in animals captured from the wild and in those raised within an aquarium. Infection of the Amazon dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis) with Hunterotrema caballeroi causes pulmonary atelectasis. An unidentified holotrich ciliate was found in the blowholes of over 50% of the animals examined and was responsible for a purulent pneumonia in 1 instance. Hepatic and pancreatic trematodiasis which caused interstitial fibrosis occurred frequently in T. truncatus; the trematode was identified as Campula palliata. Pholeter gastrophilus, a trematode, results in the proliferation of a tumorous mass of fibrous tissue in the wall of the stomach. The sclerotic tissue surrounds cavities containing parasites and ova.

Comparison of infections with Leucocytozoon simondi in black ducks (Anas rubripes), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos and white Pekins (Anas bochas)

The effects of Leucocytozoon simondi on black ducks, mallards, and white Pekins were evaluated by comparing natural and experimental infections in immature and adult ducks. Higher mortality rates were recorded in immature white Pekins (75%) than in mallards (40%) and black ducks (18%) exposed continually to infected flies. Comparable doses of sporozoites inoculated into ducklings of the three species gave similar results, mortality in white Pekins was high (91%), moderate in mallards (58%), and black ducks (54%). Parasitemias, despite some variation, were higher in the endemic species. Lowest red blood cell volumes were noticed in infected white Pekins. Mortality of 60% was noted in adult white Pekins and deaths among adult mallards and black ducks were rare. Investigations of the spring relapse of L. simondi indicated more parasites in the peripheral blood of black ducks than in mallards and white Pekins. The endemic species appear more tolerant to the parasites.