Abstract
Lung disease is common among wild and managed collections of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).1-4 Developing rapid and accurate techniques for evaluating pleural and pulmonary health in dolphins is critical. For this reason, marine mammal veterinarians and consulting radiologists have been incorporating ultrasound into dolphin pulmonary evaluations.5-14 The purpose of this study was to standardize techniques and the interpretation of findings in dolphins. Through our care of the Navy Marine Mammal Program dolphin population, we conducted 498 non-cardiac thoracic ultrasound exams on 79 dolphins between 2005–2010. These exams were conducted as part of annual routine physicals, diagnostic workups, and disease monitoring. Abnormal sonographic findings included pleural effusion, pulmonary masses, interstitial-alveolar syndrome, and pulmonary consolidation. Further diagnostics were often performed to obtain definitive diagnosis, specifically ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis, fine needle aspirates, and lung biopsies, as well as X-rays and CT exams. Gross and histopathology data were occasionally available and provided confirmation of diagnoses. Thoracic ultrasound is an important and valuable diagnostic tool for detecting pleural and pulmonary diseases in dolphins, and ultrasound examination should be considered an essential part of a comprehensive health evaluation.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the veterinarians who contributed to this study through case management and examinations: Drs. William Van Bonn, Christopher Dold, Natalie Noll, Brad Blankenship, Leah Smith, Nate Daughenbaugh, Elizabeth Hoffman, Katherine Frank, and Audrey McMillan-Cole. Veronica Cendejas and Sacha Stevenson provided invaluable technical support to the clinical veterinarians. The Navy Marine Mammal Program biotechnicians, trainers, and managers were instrumental in facilitating exams. Special thanks for Drs. Stephanie Venn-Watson and Sam Ridgway for their support and review of this study.
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