Mycotic otitis media in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Abstract

A 9-year-old by-caught harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was subject to routine post-mortem examination. Major findings included parasitic infection (Stenurus minor) of the left middle ear and severe mycotic infection of the right middle ear. The morphological appearance of the causative organism was consistent with Aspergillus fumigatus. These pathological findings were likely to have impaired echolocation in this animal and this may have contributed to the by-catch. The ears of marine mammals should be examined routinely during post-mortem investigations.