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Case Synopsis for Juno
aka MML 9415
Species: Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)
Age Class: Calf
Gender: Female
Date Stranded: 18 Aug 1994
Location of Stranding: Juno Beach, Palm Beach County, FL
Date of Arrival: 18 Aug 1994
Number of Days of Care: 146
Final Disposition: Died on 11 Jan 1995
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Comments/Disposition:
  Juno was an orphaned calf, ~ 1 month old. Able to swim unaided. Would not nurse from bottle, but learned to accept voluntary gastric tubing. Artificial formulas were modified numerous times in response to growth, GI tolerance, and bloodwork. Greater than expected NaCL was required; protein in diet had to be decreased in response to uric acid elevations. Treated for bacterial infection, gastric yeast infection (Torulopsis glabrata), malnutrition, regenerative anemia, possible parasites. Juno began eating some squid on 2 Nov, but was never completely weaned. Juno died on 11 January and the necropsy revealed a rupture in her intestines.
Cause of Death:
Disseminated mycotic gastritis (Mucor sp.) leading to rupture of duodenum. Predisposing factor- depressed humoral and cell-mediated immune system.
Lessons:
1- Evaluation of immune status in neonates should contribute to rehab decisions.
2- More work on getting this species to nurse from a bottle is needed.
3- "security blanket" (floating mat) seemed important to this individual.
Presentations:
Townsend, F. I., G. Grey, H. Rhinehart, M. M. Wells, G. Siebenaler, and D. Sips. "Hand-rearing techniques for neonate/infant cetaceans." Oral presentation at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine 26th annual conference, Mystic, CT. 1995.
Gorzelany, J. F., H. Rhinehart, F. Townsend, and M. M. Wells. "Development and administration of a nutritional formula for a stranded pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) calf." Oral presentation at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine 26th annual conference, Mystic, CT. 1995.
Rhinehart, H., F. Townsend, J. F. Gorzelany, M. M. Wells, and S. Broecker. "Unusual behaviors in a young stranded pygmy sperm whale calf (Kogia breviceps)." Oral presentation at the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine 26th annual conference, Mystic, CT. 1995.
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