Vaginal Calculi in a Juvenile Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

• Published in: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
• Main Authors: Stephanie A. Norman, Michael M. Garner, Susan Berta, Sandra Dubpernell, Matthew Klope
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 2011
• Subjects: Phocoena phocoena
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1638/2010-0168.1

A large number of vaginal calculi were observed in a juvenile harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on Whidbey Island, Washington. Vaginal calculi have been reported in other species, but not in harbor porpoises. Histologic examination of the urinary tract revealed mucosal hyperplasia most likely attributable to the calculi. The calculi were numerous (>30), composed completely of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), and on culture yielded Enterococcus spp., a bacterium not usually associated with struvite urolith formation in domestic animals. The only other lesion of note was severe hepatic lipidosis, and its relationship to the development of the vaginal calculi is unknown.