Dermatophilus-like infection in beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, fromthe St. Lawrence estuary

Six beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) found dead on the shores of the S t. Lawrence estuary had multiple slightly depressed greyish round areas ran domly distributed over the whole body. Histologically, the surface of these areas was covered with a thick layer of Dermatophilus-like organisms which invaded the stratum corneum. The underlying stratum spinosum had marked sp ongiosis and vacuolar degeneration. Minimal neutrophilic infiltration was p resent within the underlying dermal papillae. To the authors knowledge, der matophilosis in cetaceans has not been reported previously.