Marine Mammals Flashcards
Mustelids
Sea otters
Ursids
Polar Bears
Pinnipeds
Seals
Sea Lions
Walrus
Cetaceans
Dolphins, whales
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA, USDC) has regulatory jurisdiction for what species?
- Whales
- Dolphins
- Seals
- Sea Lions
Fish and Wildlife Service (USDI) has regulatory jurisdiction for what species?
- Sea Otter
- Walrus
- Polar Bears
- Sirenians
- management responsibility for Hawaiian Monk Seals
3 families of pinnipeds
- Phocidae (seals)
- Otariidae (sea lions)
- Odobenidae (walrus)
Phocidae characteristics
- marine, freshwater, estuarine
- hind flippers CANNOT go forward
- furred palms and soles
- nails on hind flippers are the same size
- dark epidermis
Otariidae charcteristics
- small ear pinna
- marine only
- hind flippers can rotate forward
- naked palms & soles
- nails on hind flippers larger in middle 3 digits
- light epidermis
Odobenidae (walrus) characteristics
- tail enclosed in web of skin
- round tip of tongue; not notched
- enlarged upper canines (tusks)
- no lower incisors & no pinnae
- fused mandibular symphysis
Venipuncture sites for pinnipeds
- phocids(seals): intervertebral extradural sinus
- otarids (sea lions): external jugular vein, caudal gluteal vein
- secondary location = interdigital veins; can do on anything with flippers
Leptospirosis is primarily a problem in ___________
California sea lions & northern fur seals
Leptospirosis causes what ?
abortion, nephritis, hemorrhagic syndrome; primarily affecting fetuses and neonates.
Leptospirosis-clinical signs
- depression
- polydipsia
- reluctance to use rear limbs
- fever, leukocytosis, azotemia
- occ. icterus
Tx options & Tx of choice for Leptospirosis
Enrofloxacin (preferred)
Tetracyclines, or Penicillin G
Important viral diseases in pinnipeds
- morbilliviruses
- influenza virus
- parapox
- calicivirus (SMSV=VESV)
- herpesviruses
Important parasitic dz of pinnipeds
- lung and nasal mites
- lungworms (Otostrongylus)
- heartworms (their own variety and those of dogs)
Which cetaceans have two external blowholes?
Mysticetes (baleen whales)
Which cetaceans have one external blowhole?
Odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins, porpoises)
Ziphiidae (beaked whales)-important points
- deep divers-mass strandings associated with sonar activity have been reported
- females are difficult to identify to species since their teeth don’t erupt
Delphinidae (dolphin) characteristics
- small, active,
- prominent beaks
- many teeth-both jaws
- conical teeth
- large tapering flippers
Phocoenidae (porpoise) characteristics
- smaller than dolphins
- no beak
- spade-like teeth
- low dorsal fin
Normal pH of cetacean forestomach
1.5-3
Normal cells of cetacean forestomach
polygonal cells with low N:C ratio; keratinized squamous cells +/- parabasal cells
Normal cells in cetacean glandular & pyloric stomach
nonciliated simple columnar epithelium
Cetacean renal anatomy
Kidneys are extensively lobulated (renules)
each renule has own cortex, medulla, papilla, calyx, and blood supply.
several renules share a common duct to the proximal ureter
Cetacean venipuncture site
Ventral fluke vessels
Secondary: Caudal vein-risk of infection. Cardiac puncture: for euthanasia (after sedation/analgesia)
Major cetacean viral diseases
- cetacean morbillivirus
- herpesviruses
- poxvirus-tattoo lesions
What is a bacterial disease that is a big concern in cetaceans held in captivity?
Erysipelas rhusiopathiae
Cetacean bacterial diseases
- E. rhusiopathiae
- Bacterial pneumonias
- Marine brucellosis
Cause of candidiasis in cetaceans
Secondary; e.g. to immunocompromise or unbalanced water disinfection
Candidiasis lesions commonly occur where on cetaceans?
around body orifices
Keloidal blastomycosis affects ___________
man & dolphin
Parasites that have been implicated as possible causes of strandings in cetaceans
- Stenurus spp. (nematodes)
- Nasitrema spp. (trematodes)
What marine mammals are susceptible to toxoplasmosis?
Cetaceans
Non-infectious causes of morbidity and mortality of cetaceans
- fishery interactions
- marine debris
- decompression sickness/acoustic response
Usefulness of blubber biopsy
- genetics
- tox screenings
- hormone levels-diagnose pregnancy
Sirenians
manatees and dugongs
