Congenital defects in northern elephant seals stranded along the central California coast

Eleven cases of congenital anomalies were identified in 210 (5%) juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) found stranded along the central California (USA) coast from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1995. Seven individuals had mild-to-moderate hydrocephalus involving the lateral ventricles bilaterally, or the lateral and third ventricles. Two animals had severe cardiac anomalies: hypoplasia of the right ventricle with overriding aorta, and ventricular septal defect. Other anomalies included single cases of hydronephrosis, focal pulmonary dysplasia, and congenital epidermal angiomatosis. Common intercurrent disease processes were verminous pneumonia and arteritis, verminous enteritis and coliti, and splenic and hepatic hemosiderosis. The more severe anomalies were considered to be the cause of debilitation and stranding. Milder anomalies were found incidentally during routine gross necropsy and histopathologic examination.

A case of cleft palate in a Kuril seal (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri), from Hokkaido, Japan

A male pup Kuril seal (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) from Hokkaido, Japan, was observed with a unilateral and total cleft of the primary palate. Complications included a supernumerary tooth, hypoplasia and asymmetry of the face, and deformation of the eyeball and external auditory meatus. An accompanying pneumonia may have resulted from water flowing into the respiratory system due to imperfect closure of the nostril by the cleft. No other abnormalities were found.

Myocardial bridges in animals

Myocardial bridges in a number of different species is described and classified. In formulation of the classification special attention was given to the location, width, thickness of the muscular layer of the bridge and the number of commitant veins of the overbridged artery. Four types of myocardial bridges were recognized.