Gulf of Alaska | Mammals
Abdominal ectopic pregnancy and myocardial calcification in a Steller sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus )
Presenter: Kyle Kansman , kyle.kansman@colostate.edu, Colorado State University Lauren Nakonechny , Lauren.Nakonechny@colostate.edu, Colorado State University Kathy Burek Huntington , avps.kbh@gmail.com, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services Brianna Potter , Brianna.Potter@colostate.edu, Colorado State University Caroline Goertz , carrieg@alaskasealife.org, Alaska SeaLife Center
An adult female Steller sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus ) was found deceased along Resurrection Bay in Seward, Alaska. Field necropsy revealed an autolyzed fetus within the abdominal cavity with no umbilical cord or placenta found. Gross evidence suggestive of uterine rupture and lack of gross and histological evidence of abdominal placentation highly suggests a secondary abdominal ectopic pregnancy. Histopathology of the dam revealed diffuse fibrinosuppurative peritonitis, severe endometritis, and severe chronic myocardial calcification. The underlying etiology of the severe endometritis is unknown, but the endometritis likely led to uterine rupture and the ectopic pregnancy. The myocardial calcification was consistent with dystrophic calcification. It is possible bacteria that spread from the peritonitis could have initiated this lesion. There was no evidence of associated heart failure. The diffuse, chronic active, peritonitis and presumed septicemia are most likely due to the autolyzed intraabdominal fetus and were likely the cause of death. To the authors’ best knowledge, this case represents the first documented case of a secondary abdominal ectopic pregnancy in a Steller sea lion and is the first report of myocardial calcification in a marine mammal in the literature. KEY WORDS: Ectopic pregnancy Myocardial calcification Sepsis Endometritis Steller sea lion Marine mammal
Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 258
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