Event Title

Conjoined fetal twins in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)

Presentation Abstract

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most abundant marine mammal in the Salish Sea and have been used as indicators for contaminants throughout the region. On July 11, 2013, an adult female harbor seal stranded on a private beach in Olga, WA (48° 36' 2.79", -122° 49' 45.92") and was collected by the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Gross examination indicated that the animal was in good nutritional condition and likely died as a result of dystocia (birthing difficulty). The seal was pregnant with male ischiopagus conjoined twins that were oriented at a 180° angle. The more caudal head protruded from the vulva and the more cranial head was retained in utero. Four pairs of flippers (two sets of fore-flippers and two sets of caudal flippers) were present. CT scan showed that the twins were joined at the caudal aspect of the thoracic spine/cranial lumbar spine where there was fusion of the spinal canal and vertebral bodies as well as significant spinal angulation and distortion. The fetus was incompletely developed, as evidenced by the presence of a partial lanugo coat, deciduous incisors and fetal heart circulation. The fontanels for both heads were not fused and were incompletely mineralized. Multifactorial contaminants, chromosomal aberrations, infectious agents and other entities have been known to cause fetal malformations in domestic animals. Toxicologic screening for a variety of organic and inorganic contaminants in liver, kidney and adipose samples was unremarkable. We hypothesize that this congenital anomaly was idiopathic, not due to contaminants, and related to disordered embryonic migration and fusion.

Session Title

Session S-04D: Marine Birds and Mammals of the Salish Sea: Identifying Patterns and Causes of Change - I

Conference Track

Species and Food Webs

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)

Document Type

Event

Start Date

1-5-2014 5:00 PM

End Date

1-5-2014 6:30 PM

Location

Room 6C

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Harbor seal--Washington (State)--Friday Harbor; Conjoined twins--Washington (State)--Friday Harbor

Geographic Coverage

Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Friday Harbor (Wash.)

Rights

This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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COinS
 
May 1st, 5:00 PM May 1st, 6:30 PM

Conjoined fetal twins in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)

Room 6C

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most abundant marine mammal in the Salish Sea and have been used as indicators for contaminants throughout the region. On July 11, 2013, an adult female harbor seal stranded on a private beach in Olga, WA (48° 36' 2.79", -122° 49' 45.92") and was collected by the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Gross examination indicated that the animal was in good nutritional condition and likely died as a result of dystocia (birthing difficulty). The seal was pregnant with male ischiopagus conjoined twins that were oriented at a 180° angle. The more caudal head protruded from the vulva and the more cranial head was retained in utero. Four pairs of flippers (two sets of fore-flippers and two sets of caudal flippers) were present. CT scan showed that the twins were joined at the caudal aspect of the thoracic spine/cranial lumbar spine where there was fusion of the spinal canal and vertebral bodies as well as significant spinal angulation and distortion. The fetus was incompletely developed, as evidenced by the presence of a partial lanugo coat, deciduous incisors and fetal heart circulation. The fontanels for both heads were not fused and were incompletely mineralized. Multifactorial contaminants, chromosomal aberrations, infectious agents and other entities have been known to cause fetal malformations in domestic animals. Toxicologic screening for a variety of organic and inorganic contaminants in liver, kidney and adipose samples was unremarkable. We hypothesize that this congenital anomaly was idiopathic, not due to contaminants, and related to disordered embryonic migration and fusion.