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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 44(3), 2008, pp. 707-711
© Wildlife Disease Association  2008
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SHORT COMMUNICATION

Nephrolithiasis and Pyelonephritis in Two West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus spp.)

 Martha Keller1,2,9, José L. Moliner3, Grettys Vásquez3, Danilo Cruz4, Orestes Bello5, Alex M. Costidis1, Sentiel A. Rommel1,6, Maron B. Calderwood Mays7 and Scott Gearhart8

1 Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, 3700 54th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711, USA
2 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100136, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
3 IMV Laboratorio Provincial de Diagnóstico Jovellanos, Carretera Central, Jovellanos, Provincia de Matanzas, Cuba
4 National Aquarium of Cuba, Calle 1ra y 62, Miramar, Municipio Playa, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
5 IMV Ciénaga de Zapata, Playa Larga, Provincia de Matanzas, Cuba
6 Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, USA
7 Florida Vet Path, Inc., 506 North West St., Bushnell, Florida 33513, USA
8 Sea World Florida, 7007 Sea World Dr., Orlando, Florida 32821, USA
9 Corresponding author (email: martha.keller{at}gmail.com)

ABSTRACT:   Two West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus spp.) were reported with severe emaciation. One animal was a Florida manatee from the Everglades; the other was an Antillean manatee from Cuba. On necropsy, both animals had nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, and moderate to severe renomegaly. Histopathology revealed multifocal to diffuse pyelonephritis, interstitial nephritis, and nephrocalcinosis. The stones were analyzed and consisted primarily of calcium carbonate. Serum chemistry values for the Florida animal revealed no renal abnormalities. The mechanism of calculus formation remains unclear in manatees. In horses, another hindgut fermenter, the most common urolith is also calcium carbonate. Urinalyses performed on manatees are very similar to those of horses (i.e., alkaline urine, low specific gravity, and calcium carbonate crystals). Formation of uroliths in manatees may have a pathogenesis similar to equine urolithiasis.
  Key words:  Kidney stone, manatee, nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, renal calculi, Trichechus manatus.






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