scholarly journals Xenotransplantation of porcine progenitor cells in an epileptic California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire A Simeone ◽  
John P Andrews ◽  
Shawn P Johnson ◽  
Mariana Casalia ◽  
Ryan Kochanski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Clinical Measures

Background: Domoic acid (DA) is a naturally occurring neurotoxin harmful to marine animals and humans. California sea lions exposed to DA in prey during algal blooms along the Pacific coast exhibit significant neurological symptoms, including epilepsy with hippocampal atrophy. Observations: Here we describe a xenotransplantation procedure to deliver interneuron progenitor cells into the damaged hippocampus of an epileptic sea lion with suspected DA toxicosis. The sea lion has had no evidence of seizures following the procedure, and clinical measures of well-being including weight and feeding habits have stabilized. Lessons: These preliminary results suggest xenotransplantation has improved the quality-of-life (QOL) for this animal and holds tremendous therapeutic promise.

Quantifying errors associated with using fecal samples to determine the diet of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1080-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J Orr ◽  
James T Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
Correction Factors ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
California Sea Lion ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Mesh Bag ◽  
Estimate Number ◽  
Fish Otoliths

The purpose of this study was to quantify the errors associated with using fecal samples to determine the diet of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Fishes and squids of known size and number were fed to five sea lions held in enclosures with seawater-filled pools. Enclosures were washed and pools were drained periodically so that sea lion feces could be collected using a 0.5 mm mesh bag. Fish otoliths and squid beaks were collected from feces and used to estimate number and size of prey eaten. An average of 50.7% (SE = 6.4%) of 430 fishes and 73.5% (SE = 12.0%) of 49 cephalopods fed to sea lions were represented by otoliths and beaks in feces, respectively. Estimated lengths of fish from feces were less than lengths of fish fed to sea lions by an average of 30.1% (SE = 2.8%). Beaks were not digested significantly; estimated lengths of squid were underestimated by an average of only 3.3% (SE = 1.5%) relative to actual lengths. Passage rates of otoliths varied, but more than 70% were recovered within 48 h after the fish was consumed. Passage rates of beaks were generally less than those of otoliths; six beaks (11%) were collected in feces 4 days after the squid were eaten. Correction factors were created to more reliably estimate the number and size of fishes and cephalopods eaten by California sea lions.

Pathology of Domoic Acid Toxicity in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Silvagni ◽  
L. J. Lowenstine ◽  
T. Spraker ◽  
T. P. Lipscomb ◽  
F. M. D. Gulland
Keyword(s):  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Domoic Acid ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Granular Cell ◽  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Neuronal Necrosis ◽  
Hydropic Degeneration ◽  
Sea Lions

Over 100 free-ranging adult California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus) and one Northern fur seal ( Callorhinus ursinus), predominantly adult females, were intoxicated by domoic acid (DA) during three harmful algal blooms between 1998 and 2000 in central and northern California coastal waters. The vector prey item was Northern anchovy ( Engraulis mordax) and the primary DA-producing algal diatom was Psuedonitzschia australis. Postmortem examination revealed gross and histologic findings that were distinctive and aided in diagnosis. A total of 109 sea lions were examined, dying between 1 day and 10 months after admission to a marine mammal rehabilitation center. Persistent seizures with obtundation were the main clinical findings. Frequent gross findings in animals dying acutely consisted of piriform lobe malacia, myocardial pallor, bronchopneumonia, and complications related to pregnancy. Gross findings in animals dying months after intoxication included bilateral hippocampal atrophy. Histologic observations implicated limbic system seizure injury consistent with excitotoxin exposure. Peracutely, there was microvesicular hydropic degeneration within the neuropil of the hippocampus, amygdala, pyriform lobe, and other limbic structures. Acutely, there was ischemic neuronal necrosis, particularly apparent in the granular cells of the dentate gyrus and the pyramidal cells within the hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) sectors CA4, CA3, and CA1. Dentate granular cell necrosis has not been reported in human or experimental animal DA toxicity and may be unique to sea lions. Chronically, there was gliosis, mild nonsuppurative inflammation, and loss of laminar organization in affected areas.

scholarly journals Epidemiological models to control the spread of information in marine mammals

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1844) ◽  
pp. 20162037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary A. Schakner ◽  
Michael G. Buhnerkempe ◽  
Mathew J. Tennis ◽  
Robert J. Stansell ◽  
Bjorn K. van der Leeuw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Social Transmission ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Diffusion Analysis ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Socially transmitted wildlife behaviours that create human–wildlife conflict are an emerging problem for conservation efforts, but also provide a unique opportunity to apply principles of infectious disease control to wildlife management. As an example, California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) have learned to exploit concentrations of migratory adult salmonids below the fish ladders at Bonneville Dam, impeding endangered salmonid recovery. Proliferation of this foraging behaviour in the sea lion population has resulted in a controversial culling programme of individual sea lions at the dam, but the impact of such culling remains unclear. To evaluate the effectiveness of current and alternative culling strategies, we used network-based diffusion analysis on a long-term dataset to demonstrate that social transmission is implicated in the increase in dam-foraging behaviour and then studied different culling strategies within an epidemiological model of the behavioural transmission data. We show that current levels of lethal control have substantially reduced the rate of social transmission, but failed to effectively reduce overall sea lion recruitment. Earlier implementation of culling could have substantially reduced the extent of behavioural transmission and, ultimately, resulted in fewer animals being culled. Epidemiological analyses offer a promising tool to understand and control socially transmissible behaviours.

Development, Comparison, and Validation Using ELISAs for the Determination of Domoic Acid in California Sea Lion Body Fluids

2014 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica L Seubert ◽  
Meredith D A Howard ◽  
Raphael M Kudela ◽  
Thomas N Stewart ◽  
R Wayne Litaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domoic Acid ◽  
Matrix Effects ◽  
Body Fluids ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
California Sea Lion ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Technical Capability ◽  
Analytical Platforms

Abstract Mortalities of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) attributed to the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) produced by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia have occurred repeatedly along the U.S. west coast since the late 1990s. Quantifying the amount of DA in these animals and correlating this information with the presence of DA in phytoplankton and the local food web has become a research focus for many scientists. However, differences in materials, equipment, technical capability, budgets, and objectives of the various groups and/or agencies involved in this work have influenced the DAquantification platforms used. The goal of the present study was to compare the performance of two commercially available ELISAs for the determination of DAin a spectrum of California sea lion body fluids andto compare the results with LC/MS of the same samples. The results indicated differences among these approaches, presumably owing to matrix effects (particularly urine) and antibody reactivities. This information implies that care should be taken in attemptingto compare datasets generated using different analytical platforms and interpreting the results of published studies.

Homing by released captive California sea lions, Zalophus californianus, following release on distant islands

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 2162-2164 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Ridgway ◽  
C. C. Robison
Keyword(s):  
San Diego ◽  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
San Nicolas Island ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
San Diego Bay ◽  
East West ◽  
San Clemente Island

Captive male California sea lions were twice flown to offshore breeding islands and released. Three animals returned to their pen in San Diego Bay after discharge on San Clemente Island, about 115 km away. Two of four returned to the same facility from San Nicolas Island, about 240 km away. The fastest sea lion returned in 2 days from San Clemente and in 4 days from San Nicolas. This is the first evidence for such specific east–west navigation by sea lions and suggests that these animals are good navigators.

scholarly journals Persistent Contaminants and Herpesvirus OtHV1 Are Positively Associated With Cancer in Wild California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances M. D. Gulland ◽  
Ailsa J. Hall ◽  
Gina M. Ylitalo ◽  
Kathleen M. Colegrove ◽  
Tenaya Norris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Contaminant Exposure ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Cancer Occurrence ◽  
Urogenital Carcinoma

The prevalence of cancer in wild California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) is one of the highest amongst mammals, with 18–23% of adult animals examined post-mortem over the past 40 years having urogenital carcinoma. To date, organochlorines, genotype and infection with Otarine herpesvirus-1 (OtHV-1) have been identified in separate studies using distinct animals as associated with this carcinoma. Multi-year studies using large sample sizes to investigate the relative importance of multiple factors on marine mammal health are rare due to logistical and ethical challenges. The objective of this study was to use a case control approach with samples from 394 animals collected over 20 years in a multifactorial analysis to explore the relative importance of distinct factors identified to date as associated with sea lion cancer in the likelihood of sea lion carcinoma. Stepwise regression indicated that the best model to explain carcinoma occurrence included herpesvirus status, contaminant exposure, and blubber depth, but not genotype at a single microsatellite locus, PV11. The odds of carcinoma was 43.57 times higher in sea lions infected with OtHV-1 (95% CI 14.61, 129.96, p < 0.001), and 1.48 times higher for every unit increase in the loge[contaminant concentrations], ng g–1 (an approximate tripling of concentration), in their blubber (95% CI 1.11, 1.97, p < 0.007), after controlling for the effect of blubber depth. These findings demonstrate the importance of contaminant exposure combined with OtHV1 infection, in the potential for cancer occurrence in wild sea lions.

scholarly journals Can Sea Lions’ (Zalophus californianus) Use Mirrors to Locatean Object?

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M. Hill ◽  
Krista Webber ◽  
Alicia Kemery ◽  
Melissa Garcia ◽  
Stan A. Kuczaj II
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Self Recognition ◽  
Novel Objects ◽  
Dimensional Object ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
First Time

Although California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are capable of forming complex mental concepts, they have failed to demonstrate mirror self-recognition, a skill that requires both a mental representation of one’s physical features and knowledge of a reflective surface. Many non-human species that do not recognize themselves in mirrors can nonetheless learn to use mirror reflections to locate and retrieve objects. A total of 7 sea lions housed at 2 separate facilities were tested on their ability to detect an object using a mirror. The results of a preliminary detection task in which sea lions were reinforced for looking at a mirror to locate an object suggested that 4 sea lions reliably learned to locate an object positioned below a mirror in one of three locations. A follow-up study was conducted to determine if 3 different sea lions could learn the task without training the animals to use the mirrors. Two of the 3 sea lions located a single object in 1 of the 3 locations statistically above chance when the mirrors were added to the task for the first time. With additional mirror exposure, 1 sea lion successfully achieved 100% accuracy in detecting familiar objects placed in 1 of 3 familiar locations. This sea lion also demonstrated her ability to detect an object via a mirror located in a novel, fourth position with 100% accuracy. When two novel objects were tested with four locations, the sea lion again performed well, detecting the objects 87.5%. The results suggest that sea lions have the ability to use mirrors to locate an object with minimal exposure to a mirror, but likely need additional experience with mirrors to efficiently use the properties of these reflective surfaces and understand that the image is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object.

scholarly journals Food limitation of sea lion pups and the decline of forage off central and southern California

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 150628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam McClatchie ◽  
John Field ◽  
Andrew R. Thompson ◽  
Tim Gerrodette ◽  
Mark Lowry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern California ◽  
Food Limitation ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Marine Predator ◽  
Animal Rescue

California sea lions increased from approximately 50 000 to 340 000 animals in the last 40 years, and their pups are starving and stranding on beaches in southern California, raising questions about the adequacy of their food supply. We investigated whether the declining sea lion pup weight at San Miguel rookery was associated with changes in abundance and quality of sardine, anchovy, rockfish and market squid forage. In the last decade off central California, where breeding female sea lions from San Miguel rookery feed, sardine and anchovy greatly decreased in biomass, whereas market squid and rockfish abundance increased. Pup weights fell as forage food quality declined associated with changes in the relative abundances of forage species. A model explained 67% of the variance in pup weights using forage from central and southern California and 81% of the variance in pup weights using forage from the female sea lion foraging range. A shift from high to poor quality forage for breeding females results in food limitation of the pups, ultimately flooding animal rescue centres with starving sea lion pups. Our study is unusual in using a long-term, fishery-independent dataset to directly address an important consequence of forage decline on the productivity of a large marine predator. Whether forage declines are environmentally driven, are due to a combination of environmental drivers and fishing removals, or are due to density-dependent interactions between forage and sea lions is uncertain. However, declining forage abundance and quality was coherent over a large area (32.5–38° N) for a decade, suggesting that trends in forage are environmentally driven.

Heavy Metal and Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Residues in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus californianus)

1975 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2391-2397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Buhler ◽  
Robert R. Claeys ◽  
Bruce R. Mate
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons ◽  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Oregon Coast ◽  
Chlorinated Hydrocarbon ◽  
Sea Lions

Samples of various tissues and organs from healthy California sea lions (Zalophus californianus californianus) and sick animals (apparently with leptospirosis) collected along the central Oregon coast in 1970, 1971, and 1973 were analyzed for total mercury, methylmercury, cadmium, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Maximum mercury concentrations of 74–170 ppm occurred in sea lion liver, but only 1.6–3.7% of this was present as methylmercury. Cadmium was concentrated primarily in the kidney which contained 7.2–12.0 ppm of the metal. Chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in sea lion fat ranged between 253–475 ppm DDE, and 21.2 and 34.1 ppm PCB. Although mercury, cadmium, and chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in some of the sick sea lions were significantly higher than those present in healthy animals, it is not possible to relate these differences to the onset of leptospirosis.

scholarly journals Diphyllobothrium sprakeri n. sp. (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae): a hidden broad tapeworm from sea lions off North and South America

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús S. Hernández-Orts ◽  
Tetiana A. Kuzmina ◽  
Luis A. Gomez-Puerta ◽  
Roman Kuchta
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Ribosomal Subunit ◽  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
California Sea Lions ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Usa ◽  
A New Species

Abstract Background The systematic of several marine diphyllobothriid tapeworms of pinnipeds has been revised in recent years. However, 20 species of Diphyllobothrium from phocids and otariids are still recognized as incertae sedis. We describe a new species of Diphyllobothrium from the intestine of California sea lions Zalophus californianus (Lesson) (type-host) and South American sea lions Otaria flavescens (Shaw). Methods Zalophus californianus from the Pacific coast of the USA and O. flavescens from Peru and Argentina were screened for parasites. Partial fragments of the large ribosomal subunit gene (lsrDNA) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial gene were amplified for 22 isolates. Properly fixed material from California sea lions was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Results A total of four lsrDNA and 21 cox1 sequences were generated and aligned with published sequences of other diphyllobothriid taxa. Based on cox1 sequences, four diphyllobothriid tapeworms from O. flavescens in Peru were found to be conspecific with Adenocephalus pacificus Nybelin, 1931. The other newly generated sequences fall into a well-supported clade with sequences of a putative new species previously identified as Diphyllobothrium sp. 1. from Z. californianus and O. flavescens. A new species, Diphyllobothrium sprakeri n. sp., is proposed for tapeworms of this clade. Conclusions Diphyllobothrium sprakeri n. sp. is the first diphyllobothriid species described from Z. californianus from the Pacific coast of North America, but O. flavescens from Argentina, Chile and Peru was confirmed as an additional host. The present study molecularly confirmed the first coinfection of two diphyllobothriid species in sea lions from the Southern Hemisphere.

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