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37 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the five broad groups of marine mammals? |
Cetaceans Pinnipeds Sirenians Sea otters Polar bears |
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Describe cetaceans. |
Fusiform body with fibrocartilagenous fins and no external ears Extremely fast epidermal turnover (except belugas) Artery-vein anastomoses Extensive blubber |
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What are some unique adaptations of cetaceans? (The ones we need to know) |
"Goosebeak" larynx Cartilagenous lungs to the level of the terminal bronchioles Extremely high muscle myoglobin storing capacity (gives muscles dark red appearance) |
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Describe pinnipeds. |
Phocids (true seals) - lack exterior pinnae; unable to rotate hips forward Otarids (eared seals) - exterior pinnae; can rotate pelvis forward Odobenids (walruses) - no external ears, enlarged canine teeth (tusks), extensive vibrissae |
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Describe sirenia. |
(Manatees and dugongs) Obligate herbivores and hindgut fermenters. Two pectoral flippers and one spatulate tail. Adult manatees lack incisors and premolars. |
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Where can you collect blood from marine mammals? |
Cetaceans - central fluke vein, dorsal or pectoral fin Seals - epidural intravertebral sinus Sea lions - caudal gluteal vein, interdigital veins Manatee - brachial vascular bundle |
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What are two other diagnostic samples you can use in marine mammals? |
Respiratory (blowhole - for upper resp infections, BAL via bronchoscopy, endobronchial biopsies) Tissue biopsies |
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In what species is ocular pathology related to water quality common? |
Captive seals and sea lions |
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What parameters is ocular pathology often associated with? |
Freshwater systems, residual cleaning products, ozone and bright, reflective pools |
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Describe the progression of ocular pathology in marine mammals. |
Corneal irritation and blepharospasm > opacity, erosion, ulcerations > cataracts |
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What water quality thing must be measured at least once weekly? What is the limit in the USA? |
Coliform bacterial counts USA = <1000 MPN (most probable number)/100mL |
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What species have the densest fur of any animal? |
Sea otters |
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What types of cetaceans are most predisposed to strandings? |
Gregarious species with high social cohesion |
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What are some hypotheses on why cetaceans get stranded? |
Topographical hazards Human disturbance Geological disturbance Geomagnetic anomalies Inshore feeding Predators Stormy weather Disease of one or more pod members Evolutionary memory Suicide |
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What causes most mass mortalities of marine mammals? (Say that three times fast) |
Pathogens or toxins Not rare events |
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What are three important viruses in marine mammals? |
Morbilliviruses (distemper) Influenza A Poxvirus |
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How is distemper transmitted? |
Horizontally Needs a large population for continual transmission |
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What pathology will you see in distemper? |
Marked lymphoid depletion Erosions and ulcers of epithelium Malacia and perivascular cuffing in brain |
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Where do marine mammals get influenza A? |
Sea birds Note: it's zoonotic! |
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What are the clinical signs of influenza A in marine mammals? |
Swollen necks White or bloody nasal discharge (Rhinitis, conjunctivitis, lymphadenitis) Usually in high population densities and unseasonably warm temperatures that contribute to high mortality |
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Which of the viruses we discussed are zoonotic? |
Influenza A Seal pox |
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Where is seal pox typically seen? |
Most species of seals, usually in pups and juveniles Often seen in rehabilitation situations |
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What three bacterial diseases do we need to know about? |
Brucellosis Tuberculosis Leptospirosis |
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What species of brucellosis are seen in dolphins and seals? |
Dolphins: B. ceti Seals: B. pinnipedialis |
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What are the clinical signs of brucellosis in marine mammals? |
Abortions Neonatal deaths Abscesses (Orchitis, mastitis, arthritis) |
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What mycobacterium species are usually found in marine mammals? |
M. bovis M. tuberculosis |
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Describe the pathology of tuberculosis in marine mammals. |
Severe diffuse granulomatous pneumonia and lymphadenopathy. - granulomatous pleuritis - granulomatous peritonitis - AFOs in tissues, sputum, feces |
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In what species is leptospirosis most common? |
Sea lions |
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What are the clinical signs of leptospirosis? |
Nephritis, renal failure (incl depression, reluctance to move, PD, pyrexia) Abortions, neonatal deaths Elevated BUN, creatinine and phosporus |
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How can you treat and prevent leptospirosis? |
Tx: doxycycline Prev: vaccinate captives |
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What protozoans can cause encephalomyelitis in marine mammals? |
Sarcocystis neurona Toxoplasma gondii |
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What is a common fungal opportunistic pathogen? |
Aspergillis fumigatus |
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In BC, Douglas fir, alder, and cedar trees are environmental sources of... |
Cryptococcus gatti |
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How is Cryptococcus gatti transmitted? How do you treat it in humans? |
Transmission is airborne, but it's not contagious. Tx: long-ter (6+ month) antifungals |
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What is produced by marine dinoflagellates, causing mass dieoffs? |
Paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) - a biotoxin Toxin bioaccumulates as you go up the food chain |
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__________ has been a major cause of morbidity and mortality on the west coast. It targets ______. |
Domoic acid has been a major cause of morbidity and mortality on the west coast. It targets the hippocampus. |
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What are PAHs, in regards to St Lawrence belugas? (Hint: it's not production animal health.) |
PAHs = polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons These are formed during incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, garbage, tobacco, and charbroiled food. Accumulate in sediment near industrialized areas, and then toxicity in belugas. |
