Abstract
A neoplasm was detected in the vaginal orifice of a five-year-old, 25-kg weight female northern fur seal in November 2007. The animal was captured in 2002 on Commander Islands (Russia) and kept in the Gelendzhik dolphinarium over a period of four years.
Detection of the malady was preceded by behavioral changes in the fur seal: firstly the animal refused to fulfill display behaviors, connected with the load on the hind flippers, afterwards--it ceased to lean on the hind limbs during the movements along the platform of the enclosure. A smooth surfaced hyperemic mass, protruding for 1.5-2 cm out of the vestibule of vagina in the moments of physical exercises, was disclosed at the medical checkup. The true dimensions of the neoplasm (4 x 2 x 2 cm) and its connection with the anterior lip of cervix uteri by a pedicle were revealed at the vaginal examination with the gynecological speculum. Hematologic study performed at that time didn't display any deviations.
Weekly treatment with oral Metronidazole (10 mg/kg, TID) and vaginal irrigations with 0.01% Myramistin solution resulted in disappearance of the signs of local inflammation. The neoplasm acquired pale pink color, and normal behavior of the animal was restored. However, in the course of time the tumor slowly grew in size, and in December 2007 it was surgically removed under the general anesthesia.
One day before the operation the control blood test was carried out (no hematologic changes were noted) and the fur seal was put on preventive oral Amoxyclav (22 mg/kg, BID). During the operation, which was performed in aseptic conditions and lasted 30 minutes, the neck of uterus was displayed at the gynecological speculum and taken in the bullet forceps by the anterior and posterior lip. A clamp was applied to the pedicle of the neoplasm, and after that, the tumor was removed sharply, while the base of the pedicle was ligated and stitched.
The squamous cell (epidermoid) papilloma was diagnosed under the histological study of the excised material and the PCR assay revealed association of the disease with the human papilloma type 16 oncovirus.
During the first three postoperative days the fur seal refused to accept food and its state evidently deteriorated. Attempts to introduce antibiotic and carry out rehydration with the half-strength Rehydron solution through the oral tube were inefficient due to the vomiting occurrence. The control hematologic study, performed 48 hours after the operation, revealed visible evidences of dehydration and infectious inflammatory process. In that connection, daily intravenous drip-feed infusions of the physiologic saline (100 ml) with Amikacin (14 mg/kg, SID) and 5% dextrose solution (100 ml) with ascorbic acid (100 mg) were prescribed. Antibiotic was selected according to the sensitivity of the vaginal microflora. The medicines were introduced for 5 days in the intravenous drip-feed way into metatarsal veins of the hind flippers using disposable infusion sets (KD Medical GmbH Hospital Products, Berlin, Germany) and 20G intravenous catheters Catheter Radio-opaque (Ethicon S.p.A., Pomezia, Italia). Afterwards Amikacin was administered in the same dose intramuscularly for two more days.
The animal's behavior and hematologic indices normalized by the seventh day after the operation. The control study of the fur seal's genital organs, performed 1.5 months after the operation, confirmed total postoperative wound healing without any evidences of the papilloma recurrence. The medical supervision of the fur seal will be continued.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Utrish Dolphinarium Ltd. (Moscow), municipal establishment of the public health service "Town hospital" (Gelendzhik, Krasnodar region), municipal establishment of the public health service "Maternity hospital" (Gelendzhik, Krasnodar region), state establishment of the public health service "Infectious diseases hospital No3 of the public health service department of Krasnodar region" (Novorossiysk) for the professional advisory and practical assistance.