TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP MARCH 10-13, 2000   New Discoveries Of Old Pathogens In Sharks        Joanna D. Borucinska   Department of Biology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA         Herein are described lesions that were observed in 11 blue sharks,  Prionace glauca, seven shortfin makos, Isurus oxyrinchus, and ten pacific sleeper sharks, Somniosus pacificus.  The blue and mako sharks were collected in North Atlantic waters off Long Island, (NY) in the summer of 1998 and 1999.  The Pacific sleeper sharks were collected in the waters of Prince William Sound (AK) in June of 1997 and 1998.  All blue sharks had multifocal pinpoint erosions on the mucosa of the spiral intestine with attached tetraphyllidean and trypanorhynch tapeworms. Microscopically the cestodes attached either within intact intestinal crypts or within ulcers surrounded by a mixed cellular infiltrate.  In three blue sharks the duodeno-spiral junction harbored a single trypanorhynch cestode, Tentacularia sp. attached within mucosal ulcers.  Microscopic lesions varied from moderate to severe, granulomatous, necrotizing enteritis.  Lympho- follicular hyperplasia in the mucosa was also present.  In one of these sharks the intestinal epithelium was colonized with uni-cellular algae.  Although intralesional algae were also present, their role in the pathogenesis associated with Tentacularia sp. was unclear.  In two blue sharks, gastric perforation by retained fishing hooks was found.  In one case the hook was embedded in a fibrous mass (3x4x5cm) involving the gastric wall.  Microscopically there was gastric fibrosis, multifocal granulomatous gastritis and proliferative peritonitis.  Tissues adjacent to the hook were impregnated with iron particles.  In the second case the hook was surrounded by a fibrous, centrally cavitated mass (5x5x4cm) extending from the stomach to the transverse pericardium.  Pericardial fluid was turbid, granular and brown-red.  Pseudomonas putrefaciens and Corynebacterium sp. were cultured from gastric lesions and pericardial fluid.  Microscopically there was necrotizing gastritis, and proliferative peritonitis, endocarditis, and pericarditis.  Numerous intralesional bacteria and algae were present.  One shortfin mako had dermal erosions on the dorsal surface of the trunk.  Microscopically these foci had epidermal hyperplasia and hypertrophy of Malphigian cells, scale loss, and dermal fibroplasia.  A viral etiology (poxvirus) was suspected.  In six mako sharks the copepod, Anthosoma crassum, attached to oral mucosa.  Lesions included subacute, necrotizing stomatitis with lymphofollicular hyperplasia, hemorrhage and neovascularization.  There were shark erythrocytes, hemosiderrin and necrotic cells in the gut of one copepod.  In all Pacific sleeper sharks, Ommatokoita elongata (Lernaeopodidae), a parasitic copepod, was attached to the cornea within pinpoint opacities.  Other multi- focal, corneal opacities and conjunctivitis were also found.  One eye had a transcorneal lenticular prolapse.  Histologically, conjunctivitis, keratitis and anterior uveitis were observed.   Return to 25th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page