Name
Management of Liver Prolapse Through a Coelomic Pore in Two Species of Captive Benthic Sharks
Speakers
Description
Coelomic pores, structures that are unrepresented in non-elasmobranch vertebrates, are located on either side of the cloaca and connect the environment and coelom.1 These pores are suspected of serving an osmoregulatory function and can be used to collect samples of coelomic fluid.1,2 Reports of coelomic pore prolapse are rare in the veterinary literature.3 Two species of benthic sharks, a Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) and an Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) were presented for abnormal behavior and tissue apparently protruding from the cloaca. Bloodwork in both cases revealed profound anemia. While the Epaulette shark was euthanized, the Horn shark underwent medical and surgical intervention. Coelomic ultrasound of the Horn shark revealed a large volume of coelomic fluid. The coelomic fluid had a packed cell volume double that of peripheral blood, indicating a hemocoelom. The Horn shark received an autotransfusion, a whole blood transfusion and underwent exploratory celiotomy. As discovered during necropsy in the Epaulette shark and surgery in the Horn shark, the prolapsed tissue was the caudal aspect of the right liver lobe, which had prolapsed out of a severely dilated right coelomic pore. The Horn shark recovered from surgery but was found deceased the following day. Necropsy of the Horn shark revealed a large area at the base of the liver not seen during surgery that was traumatized and likely the source of the hemorrhage. These cases represent the first reports of liver prolapse through a coelomic pore in an elasmobranch.
Session Type
Lecture (25 Min)