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