Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites are common findings in necropsied marine mammals rescued along the California Coast. The animals typically present with a severe weight loss, anorexia and dark feces. Pinnipeds are either primary, intermediate or transport hosts for most parasites and as such are intimately involved in movement of parasites between aquatic birds, fish, and other aquatic mammals. In this research, we studied the morphology and the measurements of the gastrointestinal parasites of the Southern California pinnipeds, mainly California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) and Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Majority of the parasite specimens were obtained from stranded marine mammals necropsied at the local rehabilitation centers in the last three years. Some of the specimens were obtained from the rehabilitation center's archive. The parasites were cataloged, described, measured, identified, photographed and these data are correlated with the associated pathological lesions. The goal of this project is to compile a database of the gastrointestinal parasites that affect marine mammals in Southern California and to provide a useful reference to aid future parasite identification in pinnipeds.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an intramural grant from Western University of Health Sciences, approved by NOAA, and was done in collaboration with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Laguna Beach and the Marine Mammal Care Center, Fort McArthur. The authors wish to thank Drs Miguel Saggese and Malika Kachani for their assistance.