Oral communication in XV Congreso de Investigación de Estudiantes de Grado en Ciencias de la Salud. XIX Congreso de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biomédicas

April 21^st, 2023

Dominguez-Rebolleda V.

An entire male California sea lion (Zalophus Californianus) of approximately 18 years of age, who died during transport, is sent to the Forensic Veterinary and Pathology Service (VISAVET). The macroscopic findings suggest that the cause of death was caused by septic shock associated with a hemorrhagic infarct (due to intestinal volvulus) and secondary paralytic ileus. The autopsy of the animal reveals the existence of chronic secondary lesions, such as multifocal muscle hematomas in the right pectoral area; mild, acute, multifocal ulcerative stomatitis; esophageal dilatation with moderate acute multifocal erosions, hemopericardium with dilatation of the right ventricle; diffuse pulmonary congestion (shock), left renal atrophy with compensatory right renal hypertrophy; ulcerative hypertrophic gastritis and dilated esophagus with erosive lesions, probably due to duodenogastric reflux. Microscopically, the most relevant findings are located in the digestive system and nervous system with moderate, subacute, multifocal erosive/ulcerative stomatitis; moderate chronic multifocal lymphocytic colitis; moderate, chronic, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis with neuronal necrosis; axonal demyelination, along with the presence of protozoan structures with positive immunoreaction to Toxoplasma gondii. These parasitic lesions by Toxoplasma gondii, located at the level of the cerebral hemispheres and the central pons, could have secondarily affected, worsening the individual`s clinical picture. Wild California sea lions are susceptible to suffering infectious, neoplastic, nutritional, congenital traumatic and non-infectious inflammatory diseases of scientific relevance. Knowledge of these diferential diagnosis allows their application in comparative pathology with other domestic species and allow a greater knowledge of the pathogenesis of the different diseases in animal species.

	Servicio de Patología y Veterinaria Forense (SAP). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).