Rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuric nephrosis (capture myopathy) in a striped dolphin

This report describes delayed myoglobinuric capture myopathy in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded alive on the coast of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain). The animal was transported to Gran Canaria where it died 48 hr after stranding. The main lesions consisted of acute rhabdomyolysis affecting both cardiac and skeletal muscles, and myoglobinuric nephrosis. Using immunohistochemistry, degenerate myofibers with depletion of myoglobin, and an intracytoplasmatic immunoreaction for fibrinogen were observed. Orange-red pigmented casts in renal tubular lumens were strongly immunolabeled for myoglobin. To our knowledge, this is the first pathologic description of capture myopathy with myoglobinuric nephrosis in stranded cetaceans. Stress, exertion, trauma, and crush injury caused during the stranding, restraint, and transportation were the main causes of rhabdomyolysis in this case.