Ultrasound Diagnosis of Anencephaly in the Fetus of a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncas)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1994
Authors:Brook, F
Journal:Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Volume:25
Pagination:569-574
Date Published:1994
ISBN Number:10427260
Keywords:Tursiops truncatus
Abstract:

A young female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncas) exhibited signs of lethargy and inappettance for 48 hr. Routine blood chemistry and physical evaluation were negative. Diagnostic ultrasonography was performed. The only finding was a viable pregnancy in the left uterine horn. The dolphin quickly regained normal health and behavior. Two weeks after the original examination, a detailed sonographic assessment of fetal morphology was performed. The fetal skull base appeared disproportionately small, and the cranium could not be identified; a severe neural tube defect was suspected. At term, an uncomplicated, spontaneous delivery produced a stillborn male anencephalic calf. This is the first report of anencephaly in a dolphin fetus and of the prenatal sonographic appearance of this fetal abnormality.

URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/20095418
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith