Decompression sickness, a condition in whales caused by bubble formation in certain body tissues from dissolved inert gases. It occurs during transition from a high pressure environment to one of lower pressure, resulting in a range of conditions from itching to joint pain, convulsions, and death. A carcass of a stranded Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis, found on the shores of southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia was presentedfor postmortem. Investigation results showed that the male Sei Whale, named Si Corner showed pathologic lesions as seen from histology with the formation of fibrosis, emphysema and edema in the lungs and hepatic atrophy which indicated chronic starvation. It believedthat he also suffering from “Barotrauma or decompression sickness” which affected the ear or lungs which lead to unbalanced movement due to changes in air pressure.This may have caused the whale to beach and consequent mortality. The pathologic lesions found give an insight into possible causes of death of beached whales inMalaysia.

The present study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of mycoplasmal pneumonia of slaughter pigs in Youngnam area during the period from 1995 to 1997. The prevalence and pathomorphology of gross lung lesions were studied from 682 slaughter pigs in 8 swine herds. Gross lesions of pneumonia were recorede in the lungs of 442(64.8%), from 367 out of them(83.0%) were diagnosed as mycoplasmal pneumonia. Microbiological examination was performed with 197 lungs with gross lesions of mycoplasmal pneumonia of slaughter pigs from 8 differentswine herds. M hyopneumoniae, P multocida, A pleuropneumoniae, Streptococcus spp, Corynebacterium spp, and H parasuis were detected in 24.4%, 48.2%, 2.5%, 11.2%, 3.6%, and 1.0% of the pneumonic lungs, respectively. A total of 48 strains of M hyopneumoniae was investigated for thier in vitro susceptibility to antibiotics. Among the drugs tested, lincomycin, oxytetracycline, tiamulin and tylosin showed the high activity in minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) of 0.04-5 micro gram/ml while erythromycin showed low activity in MIC values(1.25~40micro gram/ml).

This case report describes paramphistomosis from the rumen ofan infected 3-year-old Bos indicus or also known as Zebu cattle that was sent to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Ipoh,Perak for post-mortem examination with a history of a sudden death. On post-mortem, it was found that the rumen contents hada large number of pink, pear shaped flukes, which measured about 1 cm in length attached to the rumen wall. On performing the sedimentation technique on the rumen contents, operculated eggs with germ cells were observed microscopically under compound microscope with a magnification of 100×. Regular screening of cattle for flukes is an important part of parasite controlprogrammes especially in endemic areas as it can cause anaemia and deterioration in body condition.

An adult female Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor) at Wildlife Conservation Centre, Sungkai, Perak was found dead in the paddock after abortion. The dead foetus was found on the paddock the day before this incident. The workers at the conservation centre also reported that the doe was attacked few times prior to death by a bull of the same group. The paddock in the Sungkai Conservation Centre was under construction and it was suspected that the noise from heavy machiner y and animals being transferred into different paddocks caused further stress to the affected doe which led to abortion and death. Post-mortem lesions showed generalised congestion and haemorrhage of all vital organs including liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and spleen. Histopathology revealed all organs have evidence of generalised congestion. Cause of death in this case is failure of the body system due to generalised congestion of the vital organs due to stress factor.

The local river terrapins (Batagur affinis) are an important aspect of the river ecosystem. The Turtle Conservation Centre in Bota Kanan noted morbidity and mortality in its terrapin population and some were sent for full laboratory investigationto diagnose cause of death. The faecal samples were subjected to faecal floatation technique whereby ascarid eggs were observed indicating that the turtles had helminth infection. Ascarid eggs had thick walls and measured at 140.6 μm to 149.7 μm in diameter. Apart from this, post-mortem examination of intestinal contents also showed presence of nematodes identified as Oesophagostomum sp. Treatment and control have to be instituted to prevent further morbidity and losses.

Chromobacterium violaceum is a facultative anaerobic, gram-negative rodshaped bacteria normally found in soil and stagnant water of tropical and subtropical countries. Infections of Chromobacterium violaceum are rare among mammals, but the first human infection were reported in Malaysia in 1927. This clinical case reports two separate cases of Chromobacterium violaceum infection in two sub-adult male Black-handed Gibbon (Hylobates agilis). Both animals were presented with the history of diarrhea, pyrexia and inappetance. From the physical examination, the findings were high body temperature, dull, inactive, soft fecal stained at the rectum and small open wound at lower limb of one of the case. The treatment given was antipyretic and multivitamin. Unfortunately, due to poor prognosis both patients died within 48 hours after presentation and treatment. Autopsy examinations wereperformed to find out the cause of death. Post mortem examination findings revealed hepatomegaly with multiple size whitish-yellow spots on the liver surface, congestion and enlargement of spleen and lymph node, congestion of lung and loss of demarcation between renal cortex and medulla of the kidney. The cellular changes via histopathological findings of kidney, spleen, lung and liver were suggestive of septicaemia. The gross and histopathologicalfindings were supported by the isolation of Chromobacterium violaceum via bacterial isolation and identification from lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Thus, the cause of death of the two sub-adult male Black-handed gibbon in this case are due to septicaemiadue to Chromobacterium violaceum infection.

Splenic abscess is an uncommon condition in dogs. A 10-year oldGerman Shepherd dog was presented to the small animal medical unit of the University Veterinary Hospital, Mannuthy, with the history of anorexia. Abdominal palpation revealed splenomegaly and onultrasonography a circumscribed mixed echogenic mass was noticed within splenic parenchyma. Post-mortem examination of the spleen and histopathology of the splenic lesion was consistent with splenicabscess.

In the Malaysian environment horses are primarily used in sports activities such as racing, endurance, dressage and show jumping as well as in recreational pursuits and police work. Recently, the Perak Turf Club witnessed the death of a four-yearold thoroughbred mare which was given enrofloxacin injection as treatment and was regularly dewormed and vaccinated againstequine influenza, Japanese encephalitis and tetanus. Post-mortem examination of intestinal contents revealed presence of worms. The sample was then sent to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Perak for morphological identification of the worm. The worm was identified as Parascaris equorum. Thus, awareness ongastrointestinal parasites should be raised especially by recommending improved management practices such as proper manure disposal and deworming procedures to control parasite infestations as well as good management and nutrition.

Septicaemic pasteurellosis is a fatal, sometimes epidemic, bacterial disease of domestic and wild animals including deer, bison, elk, and pronghorn antelope caused by Pasteurella multocida. This is the case report of septicaemic pasteurellosisin a captive sambar deer. The carcass was sent from Royal Endurance Stable, Bachok, Kelantan to the Kota Bharu RegionalVeterinary Laboratory for post-mortem. Gross examination of organs was followed by collection of specimens from lung, kidney,liver, spleen and heart for histopathology and bacterial examination. Pooled organ samples with rumen content were collected and sent to the nearest Chemistry Department for investigation. For histology, the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, and heart specimens were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, and routinely embedded in paraffin. Fivemicrometer sections were stained with H&E. Other tests such as worm and ectoparasiteidentification were conducted to identify the parasites. Post-mortem lesions revealed generalised haemorrhage in the organs.Pasteurella multocida serogroup B and E. coli were isolated from multiple tissues of the animal. Histological examination alsorevealed severe congestion and haemorhage of multiple tissues with infiltration of the inflammatory cells. The most likely mode of transmission of these bacteria is through an infected wound and into the bloodstream, thereby causing severe septicemia and death to the animal.