174
Renal Calculi Simpson and Gardner ( 1972 ) and Howard ( 1983 ) reported about
fi ndings of renal calculi of unidentifi ed composition in bottlenose dolphins
( Tursiops truncatus ) and an unspecifi ed beaked whale, respectively. Cowan et al.
( 1986 ) observed calcium phosphate- and calcium oxalate-based obstructive
calculi within the ureter of a Pacifi c white-sided dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus
obliquidens ). However, widely known cases of renal calculi in delphinids are uric
acid-based renoliths, which have been isolated from captive specimens of bottlenose dolphins (Miller 1994 ; Reidarson and McBain 1994 ; Townsend and Ringway
1995 ), and. in Pacifi c white-sided dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ) (Boehm
et al. 1997 ).
Vaginal Calculi Vaginal calculi have been reported from Delphinus delphis by
Harrison ( 1969 ), who described them as hard, fl attened formations containing
both organic and inorganic material; and suggested that they were remnants of
vaginal plugs of coagulated seminal fl uid. Sawyer and Walker ( 1977 ) reported
nine instances of vaginal calculi from sexually mature dolphins. They demonstrated that these calculi are composed of four types of calcium phosphate compounds also found in mammalian bone. In other species struvite, not calcium
phosphate, was the main component of these kinds of calculi. For example, the
fi nding of struvite as a major component in two vaginal calculi of Peruvian dusky
dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus obscurus ) suggested an infectious aetiology (Van
Bressem et al. 2000 ). Struvite calculus was reported also in the vagina of a bottlenose dolphin ( T. truncatus ) by McFee and Carl ( 2004 ). Benirschke et al. ( 1984 )
also described vaginal calculi from a common dolphin. The morphological diversity
of vaginal calculi of the D. delphis was thoroughly represented (Fig. 3.32 ). It was
suggested that “bone remnants from nonexpelled aborted fetuses may play a pivotal
role in vaginal calculi formation,” (Burdett and Osborne 2010 ; see also Woodhouse
and Rennie 1991 ).
A large number of vaginal calculi were recently observed for the fi rst time in
a juvenile harbor porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ) stranded on Whidbey Island,
Washington. Histologic examination of the urinary tract revealed mucosal hyperplasia most likely attributable to the calculi (Norman et al. 2011 ). The calculi
were numerous (>30) (see Fig. 3.33 ) and composed completely of struvite. On culture
they yielded Enterococcus spp., a bacterium not usually associated with struvite
urolith formation in domestic animals.
Cystic Calculi Usually, such factors as excess amounts, or inappropriate types of
dietary protein as well as water deprivation lead to development of cystic calculi
(Nutter et al. 2000 ). The occurrence of these calculi in a variety of wild and
captive turtle species have been reported. During a postmortem examination of
a western spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spiniferus hartwegi ), a calculus
(24 × 21 × 12 mm) with a dry weight of approximately 5 g was discovered in the
urinary bladder. Chemically, the calculus was a mixture of apatite, struvite, and
unidentifi able crystals. This is the fi rst report of a cystic calculus in a wild chelonian (McKown 1998 ).
3 Biocomposites and Mineralized Tissues
Renal Calculi Simpson and Gardner ( 1972 ) and Howard ( 1983 ) reported about
fi ndings of renal calculi of unidentifi ed composition in bottlenose dolphins
( Tursiops truncatus ) and an unspecifi ed beaked whale, respectively. Cowan et al.
( 1986 ) observed calcium phosphate- and calcium oxalate-based obstructive
calculi within the ureter of a Pacifi c white-sided dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus
obliquidens ). However, widely known cases of renal calculi in delphinids are uric
acid-based renoliths, which have been isolated from captive specimens of bottlenose dolphins (Miller 1994 ; Reidarson and McBain 1994 ; Townsend and Ringway
1995 ), and. in Pacifi c white-sided dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ) (Boehm
et al. 1997 ).
Vaginal Calculi Vaginal calculi have been reported from Delphinus delphis by
Harrison ( 1969 ), who described them as hard, fl attened formations containing
both organic and inorganic material; and suggested that they were remnants of
vaginal plugs of coagulated seminal fl uid. Sawyer and Walker ( 1977 ) reported
nine instances of vaginal calculi from sexually mature dolphins. They demonstrated that these calculi are composed of four types of calcium phosphate compounds also found in mammalian bone. In other species struvite, not calcium
phosphate, was the main component of these kinds of calculi. For example, the
fi nding of struvite as a major component in two vaginal calculi of Peruvian dusky
dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus obscurus ) suggested an infectious aetiology (Van
Bressem et al. 2000 ). Struvite calculus was reported also in the vagina of a bottlenose dolphin ( T. truncatus ) by McFee and Carl ( 2004 ). Benirschke et al. ( 1984 )
also described vaginal calculi from a common dolphin. The morphological diversity
of vaginal calculi of the D. delphis was thoroughly represented (Fig. 3.32 ). It was
suggested that “bone remnants from nonexpelled aborted fetuses may play a pivotal
role in vaginal calculi formation,” (Burdett and Osborne 2010 ; see also Woodhouse
and Rennie 1991 ).
A large number of vaginal calculi were recently observed for the fi rst time in
a juvenile harbor porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ) stranded on Whidbey Island,
Washington. Histologic examination of the urinary tract revealed mucosal hyperplasia most likely attributable to the calculi (Norman et al. 2011 ). The calculi
were numerous (>30) (see Fig. 3.33 ) and composed completely of struvite. On culture
they yielded Enterococcus spp., a bacterium not usually associated with struvite
urolith formation in domestic animals.
Cystic Calculi Usually, such factors as excess amounts, or inappropriate types of
dietary protein as well as water deprivation lead to development of cystic calculi
(Nutter et al. 2000 ). The occurrence of these calculi in a variety of wild and
captive turtle species have been reported. During a postmortem examination of
a western spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spiniferus hartwegi ), a calculus
(24 × 21 × 12 mm) with a dry weight of approximately 5 g was discovered in the
urinary bladder. Chemically, the calculus was a mixture of apatite, struvite, and
unidentifi able crystals. This is the fi rst report of a cystic calculus in a wild chelonian (McKown 1998 ).
3 Biocomposites and Mineralized Tissues