Abstract

Northern elephant seal strandlings of a particular age group appear to have a high incidence of a debilitating skin disease. This disease has been seen in strandlings received at the C.M.M.C. over the past 3 years. It is characterized by a progression of visible lesions beginning with multiple, elevated, epidermal blebs --> hair loss and hyperkeratization over the bleb area --> cracking and breaking of epidermal integrity over area of lesion --> subcutaneous abscess formation --> sloughing of epidermal and upper dermal tissues. Bacteriology on biopsies obtained in the earlier sequences of the syndrome consistently yields a beta-hemolytic Gp. G streptococcus. In the latter sequences, many opportunistic organisms are present, also. These include Candida sp., Pseudomonas sp., and coliforms. Slide documentation will be presented and therapy regimens will be discussed.

Notes

The two most common types of elephant seal found stranded are weak weaners and 1-2 year-olds with skin problems. The bulk of stranded mammals is found in the period from March to May.

The animals were emaciated, dehydrated and had abscesses and cracked, sloughing skin. It was impossible to obtain a pure bacterial culture from abscesses in severe, late cases.

The California Marine Mammal Center began to take skin biopsies in 1977. Biopsies were taken from the center and periphery of the lesions as well as away from the lesion. B-hemolytic Streptococcus was cultured from the periphery.

Histology revealed a pannus of bacteria between the dermis and blubber.

Treatment - Gentocin was chosen because all of the organisms isolated were sensitive to it. A dosage of 2 mg/lb for 10 days was administered (BID on first day and SID thereafter).

• Dehydration was a serious problem.

Ozonization, where the seal is immersed in ozonated water to suppress bacterial replication, was attempted and remains to be documented.