Abstract
ABSTRACT: The Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) is a small odontocete distributed from Santa Catarina state, Brazil, to Honduras. Although it is currently considered “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, considerable knowledge on health and disease aspects of this species has been gained over the last decade. The main threats for the species are represented by multiple anthropic factors. Guiana dolphins feed on a variety of taxa, primarily teleosts, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Herein, we reported a case of severe laryngeal displacement and esophageal impaction with ulceration associated with a deglutted adult leatherjacket (Oligoplites sp.). This fish species is not a common prey item of Guiana dolphins’ diet. Severe upper aerodigestive compromise likely led to death by mechanical asphyxia (choke) in this dolphin. This report attested the occurrence of upper aerodigestive dysfunction due to overzealous feeding in Guiana dolphin and contributed to general knowledge on pathology of the species.
Highlights
Asfixia por deslocamento laríngeo associado a consumo de presa de grande tamanho em boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis), Brasil
The Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) is widely distributed along the western Atlantic, from Santa Catarina state, Brazil (SIMÕES-LOPES, 1988; BOROBIA et al, 1991) to Honduras (SILVA & BEST, 1996). This species tends to occur in neritic coastal waters such as estuaries and bays (SILVA & BEST, 1994) and has shown residency patterns in various areas along the Brazilian Atlantic coast (ROSSI-SANTOS et al, 2007; HARDT et al, 2010; CANTOR et al, 2012; BATISTA et al, 2014; OSHIMA & SANTOS, 2016; DE MELLO et al, 2019)
The displaced larynx opens to the upper digestive system and is vulnerable to compression and/or obstruction, which may lead to death by asphyxia or suffocation (STOLEN et al, 2013)
Summary
Asfixia por deslocamento laríngeo associado a consumo de presa de grande tamanho em boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis), Brasil. This study aimed to describe the pathologic findings in a case of severe laryngeal displacement and esophageal impaction and ulceration by a deglutted adult leatherjacket (Oligoplites sp.) that led to asphyxia and death in a Guiana dolphin. Based on the above findings, a diagnosis of severe laryngeal displacement secondary to esophageal distension and impaction by a large-sized deglutted adult Oligoplites sp.
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