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. 2023 Nov;35(6):761-765.
doi: 10.1177/10406387231200577. Epub 2023 Sep 13.

Novel peeling skin condition in neonatal Pacific walruses, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA

Raphaela Stimmelmayr  1   2 , David Rotstein  3 , Susan Sanchez  4 , Amy Baird  5 , Gay Sheffield  6 , Jonathan A Snyder  7
Affiliations

Novel peeling skin condition in neonatal Pacific walruses, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA

Raphaela Stimmelmayr et al. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

We describe here a novel peeling skin condition (PSC) in 2 neonatal Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus subsp. divergens). Macroscopically, calves had various degrees of peeling skin exacerbated by mechanical trauma. Lesions occurred in areas subject to friction: ventrum, fore- and hindflippers, and associated joints. Histopathologic features included pseudocarcinomatous epithelial hyperplasia with orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. Bacterial cocci were present within the stratum corneum. A few intraepidermal clefts were present. Inflammation, epidermolysis, and vasculopathies were not observed. PCR assays were negative for vesivirus and for Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative and toxic shock syndrome toxins. Tissue samples were cultured and bacteria isolated and identified by MALDI-TOF MS as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus, Globicatella sanguinis, Streptococcus phocae, Pseudomonas spp., Rahnella aquatilis, and Escherichia coli. Given the young age of the calves and their clinical presentation, congenital ichthyosis was suspected. No genetic differences were detected for sequenced portions of keratin genes (keratin gene K10) between diseased and normal walrus skin. This rare PSC in neonatal Pacific walruses is recognized as novel by indigenous Alaskan marine mammal hunters of the Bering Strait region. A comprehensive diagnostic work-up of future case materials is needed to characterize the underlying biochemical defect(s).

Keywords: Alaska; Bering Strait; Odobenus rosmarus; Pacific walrus; ichthyosis; neonate; peeling skin condition.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The findings and conclusions of the authors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Characteristic gross features of a novel peeling skin condition in neonatal Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus subsp. divergens) near Saint Lawrence Island, AK. A. Focal-to-confluent peeling of the superficial epidermis on the ventrum of the hindflipper. Inset: peeling skin with gray speckled coloration of exposed underlying skin. B. Intraepidermal clefts. Inset: epidermal wrinkling in an area of epidermal clefting.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Novel peeling skin condition in neonatal Pacific walruses. A. Epithelial hyperplasia and arborization. H&E. Bar = 200 μm. B. An intraepidermal cleft. H&E. Bar = 500 μm. C. Normal Pacific walrus skin. H&E. Bar = 200 μm.
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