Pulmonary angiomatosis and hemangioma in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded in Canary island

Abstract

Vascular tumors and disorders, like angiomatosis, are rarely described in cetacean species. The fi st report in the scientific literature of pulmonary hemangíoma and angiomatosis in dolphins was described by Turnbull and Cowan (1999); however, the authors had firstly recognized angíomatosis in 1992, as an important factor of morbidity in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). This disease was characterized by proliferation of small, thick-walled blood vessels diffusely throughout the lungs, without inflammation, exudation, or alveolar haemorrhage and by proliferative hypervascularity in the visceral pleura as well as in lung­assocíated lymph nades. l<uwamura et al., (2007) reported a chronic bronchopneumonia due to lungworm infestation in a common bott!enose dolphin assocíated with pulmonary vascular proliferation consistent with "pulmonary angiomatosis." They argued that parasites could play an important role on angíogenesis and/or acquíred vascular anomalíes. A retrospective histological study was carried out on lung samples from 35 cornmon dolphins stranded in the Canary lslands coasts looking for morphological vascular changes and probable related causes. Twenty five out of 35 (71%) common dolphins showed focal or multifocal angiomatosis-like lesíons. A hígh assocíation between this type of vascular proliferation and parasitíc infestation was observed. In addítion, a single pulmonary cavernous hemangíoma not previously reported ín common dolphins is presented.