Diagnosis and successful treatment of subacute erysipelas in a captive dolphin.

Ersipelas, a common disease of swine, is caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. The organism was isolated in a blood culture taken from an infected captive dolphin. The dolphin showed typical subacute symptoms of square- and diamond-shaped skin lesions as seen in swine. It was surmised, in retrospect, that the disease was secondary to a primary pneumonia. The symptoms, clinical pathology and other special examinations, treatment and response are discussed.

Anesthetization of a Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus) for the treatment of a chronic eye infection and amputation of a metatarsal bone.

Tranquilization using 3 mg/kg of ketamine by intramuscular injection followed by inhalation anaesthesia using halothane was performed on an adult Cape fur seal in order to perform a metatarsal amputation and ophthalmic examination. Ketamine was found to have little effect at the dosage used while halothane proved to be a rapid induction agent providing a safe, continued level of surgical anaesthesia. Variations in cardiac rate and body temperature were recorded during anesthasia and blood was sampled for haematology.