Case Report: Ambergris coprolite and septicemia in a male sperm whale stranded in La Palma (Canary Islands)

• Published in: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
• Main Authors: Fernández, Antonio, Suárez-Santana, Cristian, Alonso-Almorox, Paula, Consoli, Francesco Achille, Suárez González, Zuleima, Molpeceres-Diego, Ignacio, Iglesias González, Claudia, Hernández, Marta Lorente, Pérez, Amaranta Hugo, Martín-Barrasa, José Luis, Llorente, Laura Iglesias, Medina, Félix M., Guzmán, Raiden Grandía, Rueda, Diego Llinás, Arbelo, Manuel, Sierra, Eva
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Frontiers Media SA 2024
• Subjects: Physeter macrocephalus; Sperm whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1388276; https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1388276/full

On the 21st of May 2023, a dead adult male sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ) of 13 m in length and estimated weight of around 18,000 kg was reportedly stranded at Playa Los Nogales, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. A necropsy was performed 48hpm. A 50 cm diameter and 9.5 kg coprolite was found obstructing the caudal colon-rectal lumen. Necro-hemorrhagic lesions were found in heart muscles and three different bacteria of intestinal origin were isolated and identified ( Edwarsiella tarda , Hathewaya limosa and Clostridium perfringens ). It is reported a lethal septicemia of intestinal origin associated with ambergris coprolite as cause of death in this sperm whale.