Pathological changes in the organs and tissues of beach-stranded, net-caught or captive
small odontocete cetaceans (whales and dolphins) are reported. These changes include
contraction band necrosis of cardiac and smooth muscles, smooth muscle spasm, ischemic
injury to the intestinal mucosa (especially the mucosa of the small intestine) and acute
tubular necrosis (ATN) of the proximal tubules of the nephron. Spastic contraction of terminal
bronchiolar muscular sphincters was also observed. The changes are consistent with multi …