Spinal deformity in a sandtiger shark, Carcharias taurus Rafinesque: a clinical–pathological study

Abstract

The present study investigated spinal deformity in a captive sandtiger shark and describes the clinical and histopathological features of the lesion. Clinically, the shark presented a marked spinal curvature in the region between the pectoral girdle and cranial dorsal fin. Radiographic studies revealed scoliosis and kyphosis of the vertebral column with a modification of the basic structure of five vertebrae. Post‐mortem examination confirmed the results of radiographic studies and histological examination showed remodelling and cartilaginous proliferation of the vertebral bodies together with necrosis, haemorrhage and signs of a local chronic inflammatory response extending to the surrounding muscle. Different aetiologies are proposed and discussed but nutritional imbalance (dietary vitamin deficiency) and/or traumatic injury are considered the most likely contributing factors.

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