104
instance, idiopathic bulbous protrusions of one or two eyes (Hanley et al. 1998)
have been seen, especially in females (Fig. 6.3a, arrows in black), which might
promote opaque corneas and swelling of periorbital tissues. Some animals develop skin wounds resulting from a fast escape during mating, which will eventually
expose the cuttlebone and interfere with buoyancy (Fig. 6.3b, c). Cuttlefish are
extremely aggressive when they copulate or fight for copula, and this results in multiple skin wounds (Fig. 6.3a, arrows in white) or even extended biting (Fig. 6.3d),
with eventual internal organ exposure. Nonetheless, reports on mortality associated
with this type of trauma are inexistent. As senescence takes over, the degree of skin
“wounds” increases (Anderson et al. 2002). By this time and until death, cuttlefish
will mostly display an increased destruction of the mantle epidermis (Fig. 6.3f, i).
Nonetheless, sometimes this effect will only be seen mostly on the animal’s head
(Fig. 6.3e) or on both head and mantle (Fig. 6.3g, h). The use of euthanasia as a way
to avoid pain at this stage is currently under discussion and shall be included in the
EU cephalopod guidelines.
The polluted environment in open, semiopen and closed seawater systems as
well as in offshore, onshore or inshore rearing cages, tanks or ponds might also be
detrimental to cephalopods’ health. The impact of diseases increases with stress
and pollutant conditions, which can suppress the immune response and allow
microorganisms, such as virus, bacteria and fungi, to proliferate. Therefore, the opportunistic microorganisms will generate secondary infections to these lesions.
6.1.2.3 Healing, Antibiotics and Surgery
According to Hanlon and Forsythe (1990a), wound healing in cephalopods involves a sequence of muscular contraction, dermal cellular reaction and epidermal
migration.
Stage
Anatomical manifestations
Dead animals?
One
Extensive damage to microvillus epidermis of the dorsal
mantle and dysfunction
of the underlying chromatophores (destruction of
nerves and radial muscle)
No
Two
Destruction of epidermis and
dermal chromatophores
(clear or white lesions)
No
Penetration of infection into
the underlying muscle layers of the mantle
Three
Lesion spread to the lateral
and ventral surfaces of the
mantle
Yes
Exposure of internal organs
Four
Lesion spread to head and
arms
Yes
Table 6.1 Stages of
progressive infection after
skin abrasion in Octopus
joubini and O� briareus.
(Adapted from Hanlon and
Forsythe 1990b)
A. V. Sykes and C. Gestal
instance, idiopathic bulbous protrusions of one or two eyes (Hanley et al. 1998)
have been seen, especially in females (Fig. 6.3a, arrows in black), which might
promote opaque corneas and swelling of periorbital tissues. Some animals develop skin wounds resulting from a fast escape during mating, which will eventually
expose the cuttlebone and interfere with buoyancy (Fig. 6.3b, c). Cuttlefish are
extremely aggressive when they copulate or fight for copula, and this results in multiple skin wounds (Fig. 6.3a, arrows in white) or even extended biting (Fig. 6.3d),
with eventual internal organ exposure. Nonetheless, reports on mortality associated
with this type of trauma are inexistent. As senescence takes over, the degree of skin
“wounds” increases (Anderson et al. 2002). By this time and until death, cuttlefish
will mostly display an increased destruction of the mantle epidermis (Fig. 6.3f, i).
Nonetheless, sometimes this effect will only be seen mostly on the animal’s head
(Fig. 6.3e) or on both head and mantle (Fig. 6.3g, h). The use of euthanasia as a way
to avoid pain at this stage is currently under discussion and shall be included in the
EU cephalopod guidelines.
The polluted environment in open, semiopen and closed seawater systems as
well as in offshore, onshore or inshore rearing cages, tanks or ponds might also be
detrimental to cephalopods’ health. The impact of diseases increases with stress
and pollutant conditions, which can suppress the immune response and allow
microorganisms, such as virus, bacteria and fungi, to proliferate. Therefore, the opportunistic microorganisms will generate secondary infections to these lesions.
6.1.2.3 Healing, Antibiotics and Surgery
According to Hanlon and Forsythe (1990a), wound healing in cephalopods involves a sequence of muscular contraction, dermal cellular reaction and epidermal
migration.
Stage
Anatomical manifestations
Dead animals?
One
Extensive damage to microvillus epidermis of the dorsal
mantle and dysfunction
of the underlying chromatophores (destruction of
nerves and radial muscle)
No
Two
Destruction of epidermis and
dermal chromatophores
(clear or white lesions)
No
Penetration of infection into
the underlying muscle layers of the mantle
Three
Lesion spread to the lateral
and ventral surfaces of the
mantle
Yes
Exposure of internal organs
Four
Lesion spread to head and
arms
Yes
Table 6.1 Stages of
progressive infection after
skin abrasion in Octopus
joubini and O� briareus.
(Adapted from Hanlon and
Forsythe 1990b)
A. V. Sykes and C. Gestal