Hypertrophic osteopathy in a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) with concurrent pulmonary Halocercus delphini infestation

Dolphins are marine mammals that often live in coastal habitats. Common causes of severe skeletal disorders among wild dolphins congenital vertebral anomalities, collisions with sea vessels, trauma, hunting-related injury, infectious diseases, environmental pollution, and tumors.A free-ranging male, 3-year-old common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) was found dead the coast Asturias northern Spain. Postmortem examination revealed lordosis caudal column, while X-ray imaging computer tomography showed well-organized palisade-like periosteal proliferation, appearing as florid-like accretions, along spinous apophysis 26 lumbar-caudal vertebrae. The transverse affected on only a few cortical layer remained intact. Histology vertebra tissue proliferation cancellous bone. animal diagnosed hypertrophic osteopathy. lungs diffuse parasitic granulomatous bronchointerstitial pneumonia caused by Halocercus delphini, consolidation pulmonary tissue, congestion, alveolar edema. also afflicted gastritis Anisakis simplex sensu lato tattoo skin disease.The suffered from osteopathy associated delphini infestation. This syndrome, known osteopathy, has been described diverse terrestrial mammals, including domestic animals, wildlife humans, but not dolphins. case reports first description to disorder dolphin, it provides insights into factors can induce column malformation dolphins, suggesting importance taking thoracic lesions account during differential diagnosis.