• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.142-144
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• 2016

We report a case of Escherichia coli septicemia in a 6-year-old male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Gross lesions included turbid reddish yellow ascites, fibrous adhesions of rectum and peritoneum, multifocal mucosal ulcers of rectum, and systemic petechiae. Multifocal necrosis with bacterial colonies was observed histologically in mucosal membrane of rectum and anus, and also in caudal mesenteric lymph node, inguinal lymph node, tracheobronchial lymph node, tonsil, spleen, liver, and lung. E. coli was isolated in pure culture from multiple organs including blood, spleen, mesenteric lymph node, liver, lung, and ascites. The E. coli was serotype O25. This case was diagnosed as a septicemia caused by E. coli serotype O25 associated with proctitis.