SHORT COMMUNICATION
Hemorrhagic and Necrotizing Pleurisy
as the Cause of Death of a Migrating Wolf
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1
Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science;
Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 35, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
2
Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science,
Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71c, 60-625 Poznan, Poland
3
Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology; Poznan University of Life Sciences,
Wojska Polskiego 69, 60-625 Poznań, Poland
4
Forest Inspectorate of Turek, Chopina 70, 62-700 Turek, Poland
Submission date: 2021-02-21
Final revision date: 2021-04-14
Acceptance date: 2021-04-15
Online publication date: 2021-10-07
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Corresponding author
Anna Łukomska
Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Poznan University of Life Sciences, ul. Wołyńska 35, 60-637, Poznań, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(6):5917-5921
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ABSTRACT
The restoration of the distribution range of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) creates the possibility of
gene exchange in the wolf’s various populations, and biodiversity in the environment. At the beginning
of May 2020, in the Turek Forest District, an atypically behaving young individual was registered.
The wolf was found dead after four days of observation. A radiographic examination of the body was
performed, followed by an autopsy and histopathological and cytopathological examination of the lungs
and pleural effusion. Post-mortem examination revealed a significant amount of cloudy fluid with blood
in the pleural cavity. The lungs were sunken and showed a series of lesions indicative of inflammation.
The diagnosis was confirmed by a histopathological examination and smear of pleural fluid.
The laboratory tests revealed the presence of bacteria with the morphological features of
Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. The changes found in the study indicate that fibrinhaemorrhagic-
necrotizing pleurisy was the primary process and the cause of the wolf’s death.
The circumstances described indicate that the tested wolf was an individual rejected by the pack,
who migrated alone. Decreased immunity, possibly caused by stress and malnutrition, caused the
proliferation of opportunistic bacteria that eventually led to pleurisy and death.