A histological study of the skin, hair follicles and moult of the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata [Erxleben, 1777])

Data were collected from harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups belonging to the Greenland Sea (or "West Ice") stocks in 1995-1997. Pups of both species were observed to feed independently shortly after weaning, and their first food was almost exclusively crustaceans. Parathemisto sp., particularly P. libellula, dominated the diet of both the harp and the hooded seal pups, but the diet also contained sympagic amphipods of the genus Gammarus. Krill (Thysanoessa sp.) was of minor importance as food for seal pups in 1995, but occurred more frequentlyin the diet of both species in 1996 and 1997. Considerable niche overlap may suggest some interspecific competition between harp and hooded seal pups in the West Ice.

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Some Morphological Characteristics of Dipetalonema spirocauda Leidy, 1858, Isolated from the Hooded Seal, Cystophora cristata Erxleben 1777

Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.2307/3278614 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Oddvar Helle ◽

Arnoldus Schytte Blix

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Hooded Seal ◽

Cystophora Cristata

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An SEM study of Phocascaris cystophorae Berland, 1964 (Nematoda: Anisakidae), a parasite of the hooded seal Cystophora cristata

Systematic Parasitology ◽

10.1023/a:1014083331759 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 155-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elvira Abollo ◽

Santiago Pascual

Keyword(s):

Hooded Seal ◽

Cystophora Cristata ◽

Sem Study

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THE 'HOOD' OF THE HOODED SEAL, CYSTOPHORA CRISTATA

Science ◽

10.1126/science.ns-4.96.514 ◽

1884 ◽

Vol ns-4 (96) ◽

pp. 514-516

Author(s):

C. H. MERRIAM

Keyword(s):

Hooded Seal ◽

Cystophora Cristata

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Morbilliviral Dermatitis in Seals

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1354/vp.38-6-724 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 724-726 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

T. P. Lipscomb ◽

M. G. Mense ◽

P. L. Habecker ◽

J. K. Taubenberger ◽

R. Schoelkopf

Keyword(s):

Inclusion Bodies ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Basal Cells ◽

Hooded Seal ◽

Cystophora Cristata ◽

Phoca Groenlandica ◽

Phocine Distemper Virus ◽

Intracytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies ◽

Polymerase Chain

A juvenile female hooded seal ( Cystophora cristata) and a juvenile male harp seal ( Phoca groenlandica) stranded separately on the New Jersey (USA) coast and were taken to a marine mammal rehabilitation center. Both were lethargic and emaciated, had dermatitis, and died. Histologic skin lesions in the seals were similar and consisted of epidermal and follicular epithelial hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, degeneration, and necrosis. The most distinctive finding was extensive syncytial zones bounded superficially by hyperkeratosis and deeply by hyperplastic basal cells. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were present in epithelial cells. Morbilliviral antigen was demonstrated in the skin lesions by immunohistochemistry. Phocine distemper virus was detected in the skin by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and a phocine distemper virus-specific probe using the Southern blot technique. This is the first report of morbilliviral dermatitis in marine mammals.

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