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Dermatophilus ‐like infection in beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas , from the St. Lawrence estuary
Author(s) -
Mikaelian I.,
Lapointe J.M.,
Labelle P.,
Higgins R.,
Paradis M.,
Martineau D.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3164.2001.00216.x
Subject(s) - leucas , beluga whale , estuary , beluga , biology , stratum spinosum , cetacea , fishery , zoology , pathology , medicine , stratum corneum , ecology , arctic
Six beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) found dead on the shores of the St. Lawrence estuary had multiple slightly depressed greyish round areas randomly distributed over the whole body. Histologically, the surface of these areas was covered with a thick layer of Dermatophilus ‐like organisms which invaded the stratum corneum. The underlying stratum spinosum had marked spongiosis and vacuolar degeneration. Minimal neutrophilic infiltration was present within the underlying dermal papillae. To the authors’ knowledge, dermatophilosis in cetaceans has not been reported previously.