216 DISC

Veterinary Dermatology 2001, 12, 5962

Case report
Dermatophilus-like infection in beluga whales,
Delphinapterus leucas, from the St. Lawrence estuary
IGOR MIKAELIAN,* JEAN-MARTIN LAPOINTE,* PHILIPPE LABELLE,* ROBERT
HIGGINS,{ MANON PARADIS{ and DANIEL MARTINEAU*
*Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre and Centre quebecois sur la sante des animaux sauvages,
{Departement de pathologie et de microbiologie, and {Departement de sciences cliniques, Faculte de
medecine veterinaire, Universite de Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, J2S 7C6.
(Received 16 June 1999; accepted 27 August 1999)

Abstract Six beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) found dead on the shores of the St. Lawrence estuary had
multiple slightly depressed greyish round areas randomly distributed over the whole body. Histologically, the
surface of these areas was covered with a thick layer of Dermatophilus-like organisms which invaded the
stratum corneum. The underlying stratum spinosum had marked spongiosis and vacuolar degeneration.
Minimal neutrophilic inltration was present within the underlying dermal papillae. To the authors'
knowledge, dermatophilosis in cetaceans has not been reported previously.
Keywords: actinomycetes, beluga whale, marine mammal, nematocyst

INTRODUCTION
Cutaneous lesions are frequently observed in cetaceans. The most common type of cutaneous lesion is
a slight circular depression, often surrounded by thin
dark line. The centre of the largest of these sometimes
contains necrotic material.1 Several agents have been
visualized or isolated from these lesions, including
poxviruses,2,3 herpesviruses,46 Fusarium spp.,7 Pseudomonas aeruginosa,8 Aeromonas hydrophila,9 Candida albicans,10,11 and Trichophyton spp.12 However,
bacterial and fungal cultures are frequently unsuccessful,1 or micro-organisms isolated are considered
secondary opportunistic agents.1,13 This case report
describes similar types of cutaneous lesions associated
with Dermatophilus-like bacteria in six beluga whales
(Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence estuary.

Macroscopically, skin lesions were similar among

all animals. They consisted of slightly depressed, 0.5
4 cm in diameter, round areas with a dull surface and
pale grey colour (Fig. 1). On cross section, the
epidermis in these areas was 80% of its normal
thickness. In one animal, approximately 20% of the
lesions had a rough surface and were centred on a
linear ssure (Fig. 2). These lesions were numerous
and covered about 5% of the surface of the whole
body in ve of six whales. The remaining animal had
only two of these lesions, each 1 cm across.
Microscopic examination revealed severe spongiosis and vacuolar degeneration of the stratum spinosum in aected areas. Myriad Gram-positive coccoid
organisms in rows covered the surface of the lesions
and extended into the stratum corneum (Fig. 3).

CASE REPORT
The animals were found stranded on the shores of the
St. Lawrence estuary and brought to the University
of Montreal for post-mortem examination from 3
June 1998 to 1 June 1999. Death was variably
attributed to an adenocarcinoma of the proximal
intestine, systemic toxoplasmosis, necrosuppurative
glossitis, septicemia secondary to a cutaneous wound,
suppurative cystitis and suppurative mastitis.
Correspondence: Igor Mikaelian, IDEXX Veterinary Services
2825 Kovr Drive, West Sacramento, CA 95605, USA.
# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd

Figure 1. Beluga whale with dermatophilosis: the lesion consists in a

depressed round area with a dull surface surrounded by a pale halo.
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I. Mikaelian et al.

Figure 2. Beluga whale with dermatophilosis: these lesions are

centred on a linear crevice.

These organisms were best visualized using a Giemsa

stain and occasionally formed double rows with a
railroad track appearance. In two beluga whales,
these bacteria were enmeshed with many needleshaped structures implanted in the stratum corneum
(Fig. 3). These structures were 30 mm long and 45
mm wide and did not stain with Von Kossa (for
minerals), Prussian blue periodic acid-Schi (for iron)
or and Grocott's methenamine silver nitrate (for
fungi). They were interpreted as discharged nematocysts, the microscopic stinging structures of cnidarians (corals, urchins, sea anemones and jellysh).14
Most dermal papillae in areas covered with
Dermatophilus sp.-like organisms were inltrated by
a small number of neutrophils and showed moderate
congestion and oedema. Large acidophilic intranuclear inclusions were found in a small number of
brocytes of dermal papillae in one whale. Electron

microscopic examination showed that these inclusion

bodies were intranuclear cytoplasmic invaginations.
Intracytoplasmic acidophilic droplets were found in a
few keratinocytes of the upper portion of the stratum
spinosum in another whale. Ultrastructural examination revealed that these inclusions were endoplasmic
reticulum severely distended by an homogenously
electron-lucent material which was interpreted as
proteinaceous uid. Inclusion bodies suggestive of
poxvirus or herpesvirus infection were not observed
either in any other whales' tissue samples. The skin
specimens were cultured on 5% sheep blood agar
(Columbia blood agar base; Difco, Detroit, MI,
USA). Plates were incubated at 378C for 47 days in a
5% CO2 atmosphere. Concurrently, the Haalstra's
enrichment technique for primary isolation of D.
congolensis was performed using samples from three
animals, with the same culture techniques as above.15
All cultures were negative for Dermatophilus spp.
DISCUSSION
To our knowledge, this is the rst report of
dermatophilosis in cetaceans. Prior to these cases,
89 reasonably well-preserved beluga whales had been
examined by our group and similar lesions had not
been noticed. Previous reports of dermatophilosis in
marine mammals described lesions in captive Polar
bears (Ursus maritimus)1618 and South American Sea
lions (Otaria byronia).19 Lesions and clinical signs in
these captive marine mammals were identical to those
observed in domestic and wild terrestrial mammals.
They consisted of a papular epidermitis in the acute

Figure 3. Numerous nematocysts (arrows) are implanted at straight angle in the stratum corneum. They are enmeshed with and covered by a
thick layer of Dermatophilus-like bacteria (arrowheads) (Haematoxylin-phloxin-saron; 6200). Inset (a) higher magnication demonstrating
laments of Dermatophilus-like organisms from a skin scraping (Giemsa; Bar = 8 mm). Inset (b) higher magnication demonstrating the pine
needle appearance of a nematocyst from a skin scraping (Giemsa; Bar = 5 mm).
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216 DISC
Dermatophilosis in beluga whales
phase of the disease, followed by exudative epidermitis with characteristic crusts enmeshed with tufts of
hair in the chronic phase.1618,20 Lesions in beluga
whales resemble early lesions of dermatophilosis in
crocodiles21 in that inammation is mild and that the
aected areas are not covered by a kerato-leukocytic
crust. The microscopic aspect of dermatophilosis in
these beluga whales may reect the acuteness of
the infection.
The diagnosis of cutaneous dermatophilosis in the
present report was based on the histopathological
characterization of Dermatophilus-like organisms in
skin lesions. This morphology is so unique that a
strong presumptive diagnosis of dermatophilosis can
be made on examination of stained smears alone.21
There are two recognized species of Dermatophilus:
D. congolensis, the causative agent of dermatophilosis
in mammals and reptiles,2223 and D. chelonae, which
has been isolated from tortoises and turtles.24 Dermatophilus sp. resembling D. congolensis have also been
isolated in alligators and crocodiles in which they are
associated with ulcerative dermatitis.22,25 Infection by
D. congolensis generally occurs in temperate or
tropical climates with high humidity. Therefore,
Dermatophilus-like organisms from the present cases
may represent a new species because water temperature in the St. Lawrence estuary does not exceed 118C
in summer. This hypothesis is supported by the fact
that these bacteria could not be cultured while D.
congolensis is routinely isolated in our laboratory and
grows well on a variety of media.20,24
Epidermal lesions caused by ectoparasites are an
important predisposing factor in dermatophilosis to
terrestrial mammals20 and captive marine mammals.17,19 However, all beluga whales we have
examined to date were apparently free of ectoparasites. Other causes of physical disruption of the
integrity of skin, such as stinging by nematocysts,
may be a predisposing factor to the development of
Dermatophilus-like infection in beluga whales.
Immunodeciency, either iatrogenic26 or innate,27
has also been associated with dermatophilosis in
animals. Because four of six beluga whales from the
present study had chronic debilitating diseases,
immunosuppression may have contributed to the
occurrence of dermatophilosis in these animals. Other
predisposing factors to dermatophilosis include
poxvirus infection in reptiles.25 However, viral particles
suggestive of poxviral or other viral infections were
absent in the tissues examined and poxvirus infection
has not been reported in beluga whales.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Funded by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife
Health Centre, the Centre Quebecois sur la Sante
des Animaux Sauvages, Parks Canada, the World
Wildlife Fund (Canada), and Fisheries and Oceans
Canada. We are grateful to the veterinary students of

61

the Faculte de medecine veterinaire for their invaluable assistance during beluga whale necropsies.
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5. Kennedy, S., Lindstedt, I.J., McAliskey, M.M.,
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7. Frasca, S., Dunn, J.L., Cooke, J.C., Buck, J.D.
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8. Diamond, S.S., Cadwell, G.A. Fatal bronchopneumonia
and dermatitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an
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10. Nakeeb, S., Tragowski, S.P., Spotte, S. Chronic
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captive cetaceans. Journal of the American Veterinary
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12. Simpson, J.G., Cornell, L.H. Diseases associated with
stranding and captivity. In: Howard, E.B. eds.
Pathobiology of Marine Mammals Diseases. Boca
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13. Jauniaux, T., Brosens, L., Jacquinet, E., Lambrigts, D.,
Addink, M., Smeenk, C., Coignoul, F. Postmortem
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14. Fisher, A.A. Water-related dermatoses part II.
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Resume Six dauphins beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) retrouves morts sur les rives de l'estuaire du St Laurent
presentaient de nombreuses lesions legerement deprimees, grises et rondes, sur l'ensemble du corps. L'examen
histologique a montre que la surface de ces lesions etait recouverte par une epaisse couche d'organismes
ressemblant a Dermatophilus, envahissant le stratum corneum. Le stratum spinosum sous-jacent etait
spongiotique et presentait une degenrescence vacuolaire. Une inltration moderee par des neutrophiles etait
observee au niveau des papilles dermiques sous-jacentes. Il s'agit de la premiere description de dermatophilose
chez des cretaces. [Mikaelian, I., Lapointe, J.-M., Labelle, P., Higgins, R., Paradis, M. et Martineau, D.
Dermatophilus-like infection in beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, from the St. Lawrence estuary. (Infection
ressemblant a une dermatophilose chez les dauphins Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, de l'estuaire du St
Laurent.) Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 5962.]
Resumen Seis ballenas beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) encontradas muertas en las costas del estuario de St.
Lawrence ten an multiples areas ligeramente deprimidas, redondeadas y grises distribuidas al azar por todo el
cuerpo. Histologicamente, las supercies de estas areas estaban cubiertas por una gruesa capa de organismos
semejantes a Dermatophilus que invad an el estrato corneo. El estrato espinoso subyacente mostraba
espongiosis marcada y degeneracion vacuolar. Una inltracion neutrof lica m nima se encontraba presente en
las papilas dermicas subyacentes. Segun la informacion de que disponen los autores, la dermatolosis en
cetaceos no hab a sido descrita anteriormente. [Mikaelian, I., Lapointe, J.-M., Labelle, P., Higgins, R.,
Paradis, M. y Martineau, D. Dermatophilus-like infection in beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, from the St.
Lawrence estuary. (Infeccion semejante a Dermatolos en ballenas beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, del estuario
de St. Lawrence.) Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 5962.]
Zusammenfassung Sechs Belugawale (Delphinapterus leucas), die tot am Ufer der Mundung des St.
Lorenzstromes gefunden wurden, hatten uber den ganzen Korper verteilt multiple, leicht eingedruckte, graue
runde Bereiche. Histologisch war die Oberache dieser Bereiche mit einer dicken Schicht Dermatophilusahnlicher Organismen bedeckt, die das Stratum corneum eingedrungen waren. Das darunterliegende Stratum
spinosum zeigte deutliche Spongiose und vakuolare Degeneration. Eine minimale Inltration von
neutrophilen Granulozyten war in den darunterliegenden Hautpapillen vorhanden. Berichte von
Dermatophilose bei Walen wurden bisher nach Wissen der Autoren nicht veroentlicht. [Mikaelian, I.,
Lapointe, J.-M., Labelle, P., Higgins, R., Paradis, M. und Martineau, D. Dermatophilus-like infection in
beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, from the St. Lawrence estuary. (Eine Dermatophilus-ahnliche Infektion
bei Beluga-Walen (Delphinapterus leucas) der St. Lorenz Mundung.) Veterinary Dermatology 2001; 12: 5962.]

# 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 12, 5962