Paracoccidioidomycosis ceti (PCM-C) is a zoonotic mycosis characterized by chronic granulomatous keloidal dermatitis in cetaceans that has been reported worldwide. The causative agents of PCM-C are unculturable Paracoccidioides brasiliensis var. ceti and Paracoccidioides spp., which are genetically identical to one of the causative agents of paracoccidioidomycosis: P. brasiliensis sensu stricto. The definitive diagnosis of PCM-C is based on clinical symptoms and the detection of yeast-like cells during pathological examinations; molecular diagnosis is not essential. However, analyses at the molecular level are important to distinguish PCM-C from other fungal infections showing similar clinical signs. Researchers have been following a suspected case of PCM-C in a Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) by performing cytology, histopathology, and molecular biology experiments since 2015. Finally, we confirmed it as the fourth Japanese PCM-C case based on the partial sequence of 43-kDa glycoprotein antigen gene (gp43) with 99.4% identity to that from P. brasiliensis sensu stricto from a biopsied sample in October 2019. Then, we applied a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for P. brasiliensis. The simple LAMP targeting for fungal DNA and human clinical materials failed to amplify bands, but a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and LAMP (PCR-LAMP) could amplify species-specific ladder-like bands identical to P. brasiliensis.

We have analyzed treatment records for oriental storks (Ciconia boyciana) reintroduced to Japan that were injured by leg-hold traps. We have also quantitated sales of leg-hold traps in the northern region of Hyogo prefecture, where most breeding pairs of the storks are distributed, and the occurrence of animal injuries and deaths caused by leg-hold traps in Japan since April 2007. From 2005, when reintroduction began, until December 2020, two stork injuries due to leg-hold traps have been recorded. Leg-hold traps have been sold at 7 stores in northern Hyogo. Some errors in product notices regarding correct legal usage have been discovered. To prevent injuries among the storks, we obtained cooperation from all 4 stores in Toyooka (out of 7 stores total), eliciting changes in product notices and sales methods. In addition to the two storks described in this report, 35 animals (including 10 individuals belonging to Red List species) have been injured or killed by leg-hold traps since April 2007, when their use as hunting gear became prohibited by law, according to our survey using newspaper article databases. Further investigation is necessary to accurately assess frequency and impact of legal use of leg-hold traps in Japan and to accumulate research on appropriate usage methods using data from previous studies conducted abroad. The above investigations will inform discussions of more appropriate legal regulations and more effective measures to eradicate illegal capture using leg-hold traps.

The southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), classified in the genus Tamandua, belongs to the clade Xenarthra, which includes other species like sloths and anteaters. The blood hormone during the gestation period for one individual of southern tamandua was determined; however, there have been no reports on the hormonal changes during multiple pregnancy period. Therefore, long-term blood sampling of the same female individual was performed, and plasma progesterone (P4) or estradiol (E2) during a total of 6 gestation periods was determined in the same male-female pair. From the results of plasma P4 concentration during all 6 gestation periods, the gestation period was estimated as 156.8 ± 1.7 days (152-164 days) long. The P4 concentration was 0.6 ± 0.1 ng/ml before the pregnancy period, 13.2 ± 1.8 ng/ml during early pregnancy, 28.1 ± 4.3 ng/ml during mid pregnancy, and 48.2 ± 11.8 ng/ml in late pregnancy. Plasma E2 concentration gradually increased from 100 days before the delivery until the day of delivery. The estrous cycle was estimated to be 45.5 ± 2.4 days (37-52 days) long. Thus, we demonstrated that the blood steroid hormone kinetics during multiple pregnancies of the same pair of southern tamanduas. The increase in P4 concentration was observed prior to the increase in E2 concentration during the early stage of the pregnancy, suggesting that early pregnancy determination is possible by detecting a continuous increase in P4 concentration in the southern tamandua.

A beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, which had been reared at Kamogawa Sea World for 25 years, died of renal dysfunction. At necropsy, nodules were found in the kidneys, and calcified adult nematode worms were clustered inside the nodules. Two large parasitic nematodes were found in the right ureter and were identified as Crassicauda giliakiana by morphological observation and molecular analysis. In this case, it is suggested that the beluga had already been infected with the nematodes at capturing. During the long rearing period, nodules formed due to the pathological reaction against adult worms died in the kidneys, which may have caused renal dysfunction. It is important to note that even chronic parasitic infections can cause death, as in this case.

We calculated the passage time of prey with red dye through the digestive tract on captive Tursiops aduncus to accumulate biological knowledge of this species. This study was performed on one captive male dolphin once a day for three consecutive days. The red dye was packed into a capsule made by gelatin. The capsule was then inserted into the prey and fed to the dolphin. Subsequently, the defecation time and color of feces were recorded. We defined initial passage time (IPT) as the period between the time of feeding the dolphin with the red dye-containing prey and the time the red dye was first seen in the feces. Colored feces were observed on all three days of the experiment. The IPT was 254.0 ± 20.4 min (n = 3, Mean ± SD). The average IPT was nearly the same as that of T. truncatus, which belongs to the same genus as that of T. aduncus. In conclusion, it is suggested that T. aduncus defecates a minimum of 4 to 6 hr after feeding. Also, the observation of the normal colored feces suggests that some digesta remains in the digestive tract for 18 to 22 hr.

This study describes the case of an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) that experienced clinical manifestations since March 2018. Biopsy samples from his oral mucous membrane were collected in November 2018, confirming the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The dolphin was administered the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam, however, the lesion continued to gradually deteriorate. Therefore, intralesional (ILES) bleomycin was administered. After several months, the lesion gradually improved without serious side effects. This case is the first report of ILES bleomycin treatment for OSCC in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin.