Case Report: Ambergris coprolite and septicemia in a male sperm whale stranded in La Palma (Canary Islands)

• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1388276
• Publication Date: 2024-04-08T16:50:56Z
• Authors: Antonio Fernández; Cristian Suárez-S...; Paula Alonso-Almorox; Francesco Achille...; Zuleima Suárez Go...; Ignacio Molpecere...; Claudia Iglesias ...; Marta Lorente Her...; Amaranta Hugo Pérez; José Luis Martín-...; Laura Iglesias Ll...; Félix M. Medina; Raiden Grandía Gu...; Diego Llinás Rueda; Manuel Arbelo; Eva Sierra
• Keywords: Sperm whale; Cetacea

On the 21st of May 2023, a dead adult male sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ) 13 m in length and estimated weight around 18,000 kg was reportedly stranded at Playa Los Nogales, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. A necropsy performed 48hpm. 50 cm diameter 9.5 coprolite found obstructing caudal colon-rectal lumen. Necro-hemorrhagic lesions were heart muscles three different bacteria intestinal origin isolated identified Edwarsiella tarda , Hathewaya limosa Clostridium perfringens ). It is reported lethal septicemia associated with ambergris as cause death this whale.