CASE 5CALIFORNIA SEA LION Charmane Thurmand

Shauna DeckerAaron Clark

Sarah Glazier

INFO ABOUT SEA LIONS Phylogenetic/Taxonomic

Placement:Order: CarnivoraFamily: OtariidaeGenus: ZalophusSpecies: Z. californianus

Range: Found from Mexico north

through California to British Columbia.

Live along the coast and up to ten miles out to sea

MORE INFO Interesting facts

Average lifespan 17 yrs (in wild) Seal nose shut to stay under water up to

15 min Travel at average speed of 10.8 km/hr =

6.7 mph Swim at speeds of 2.7 m/s or 8.8 ft/s

Diet includes variety of seafood, mainly squid and fish. Will cooperate with sharks, dolphins and seabirds when hunting large schools of fish

Intelligent, trained easily

CASE BACKGROUND A young stranded California Sea Lion admitted

to a rehabilitation center in June. Emaciated Diarrhea High white blood cell count (Neutrophilia) Elevated levels of protein and albumin Decrease in blood urea nitrogen concentration Determined to be dehydrated and

malnourished

CASE CONT. Two Weeks Later Anorexic Blood/mucus around oral cavity Corneal opacity in right eye (transparent structure on

front of eyeball. Occurs when cornea becomes scarred) Leukocytosis (raised white blood count with larger ratio of

immature neutrophils to mature neutrophils) Anemia (deficiency of hemoglobin in red blood cells) Thrombocytopenia (relatively few blood platelets in

blood) Died two weeks after admission, and necropsy performed

POST MORTEM Hemorrhaging in lung lobes

Swollen and damaged arteries Interstitial Pneumonia with scarring

Lungs contaminated with Escherichia coli Pus present

Clotting in pulmonary blood vessels Enlarged/hemorrhaged lymph node Blood-tinged mucus in trachea and bronchi 150 nematodes collected from the pulmonary arteries

Two nematodes found in right ventricle of the heart Nasopharyngeal acariasis (mites in nose and throat) No parasitic cysts or Helminth eggs/larvae found in fecal

samples

HYPOTHESIS Nematodes were present within the lungs along with the

greatest amount of bodily harm. Possible Nematode Infections affecting the lungs

Lungworm (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) Attachment blocks airways, induces mucus production, and can lead to secondary bacterial

infections,

Lungworm (Parafilaroides decorus) Hyperemia (excess blood), hemorrhaging, cellular infiltration, verminous pneumonia

“Lungworms are common in all pinnipeds [marine mammals). Sea lions have Parafilaroides decorus , while true seals are usually parasitized by Otostrongylus circumlitus . The latter parasite is also found in the hearts of some phocids [seals, sea lions, etc]; however, it does not produce a microfilaremia. Both of these parasites use fish as intermediate hosts.” (Thanks Merck Veterinary Manual)

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/170810.htm

WHAT WE THINK IT IS Otostrongylus circumlitus

Although typically affecting true seals, the symptoms for this particular nematode fit with the information given in the case.

Mucus and blood around the oral cavity and within the trachea

Internal hemorrhaging (from attachment?) Secondary E. coli infection in the lung

ACTUAL INFECTION Metastrongyloid Nematode

(Otostrongylus circumlitus)

EXAM QUESTION

Question What is the host of Otostrongylus

circumlitus?

Answer True seal’s