Patterns of Stranding and Mortality in Common Seals (Phoca vitulina) and Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in The Netherlands between 1979 and 2008

Osinga, Nynke; Ferdous, M.M. Shahi; Morick, Danny; Hartmann, M. García; Ulloa, Julio; Vedder, Lies; Haes, Helias A. Udo de; Brakefield, Paul M.; Osterhaus, Albert D. M. E.; Kuiken, Thijs

doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2012.04.001

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The lungs showed multifocal to coalescing chronic moderate pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic bronchopneumonia with intralesional nematodes. Such parasitic bronchopneumonia was commonly observed in young harbour seals in this population [16,17]. In the liver, mild hepatitis was observed characterized by the presence of multifocal aggregates of small numbers of neutrophils and mononuclear cells in portal areas and in distended sinusoids, infrequently associated with hepatocyte necrosis (Figure 1E ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Novel B19-Like Parvovirus in the Brain of a Harbor Seal

Bodewes

García²,

Wiersma

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using random PCR in combination with next-generation sequencing, a novel parvovirus was detected in the brain of a young harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) with chronic non-suppurative meningo-encephalitis that was rehabilitated at the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre (SRRC) in the Netherlands. In addition, two novel viruses belonging to the family Anelloviridae were detected in the lungs of this animal. Phylogenetic analysis of the coding sequence of the novel parvovirus, tentatively called Seal parvovirus, indicated that this virus belonged to the genus Erythrovirus, to which human parvovirus B19 also belongs. Although no other seals with similar signs were rehabilitated in SRRC in recent years, a prevalence study of tissues of seals from the same area collected in the period 2008-2012 indicated that the Seal parvovirus has circulated in the harbor seal population at least since 2008. The presence of the Seal parvovirus in the brain was confirmed by real-time PCR and in vitro replication. Using in situ hybridization, we showed for the first time that a parvovirus of the genus Erythrovirus was present in the Virchow-Robin space and in cerebral parenchyma adjacent to the meninges. These findings showed that a parvovirus of the genus Erythrovirus can be involved in central nervous system infection and inflammation, as has also been suspected but not proven for human parvovirus B19 infection.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Novel B19-Like Parvovirus in the Brain of a Harbor Seal

Bodewes

García²,

Wiersma

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…20 Most seal pups are weak, malnourished, and dehydrated at admission into seal rescue centers. 10,12 This compromised state and the unfamiliar environment result in an increase in sympathetic tone, which is reflected by sinus tachycardia. 42 Myocardial ischemia and cTnI release are therefore possible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10-12 Common causes of death identified through postmortem evaluation are pneumonia, sepsis, and malnutrition. [10][11][12][13] Detection of disease in seals before death is challenging. Seals rarely have clinical signs, and results…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Usefulness of serum cardiac troponin I concentration as a marker of survival of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups during rehabilitation

Fonfara¹,

Sundermeyer²,

Casamian‐Sorrosal³

et al. 2016

javma

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

OBJECTIVE To measure serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in orphaned harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups at various points during rehabilitation in a seal rescue center and determine whether cTnI concentration was associated with survival during rehabilitation and duration of rehabilitation. DESIGN Serial cross-sectional study. ANIMALS Fifty-five 2- to 9-day-old harbor seal pups. PROCEDURES Blood samples for serum cTnI concentration measurement, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis were obtained from seal pups at admission into a seal rescue center, after 2 weeks of rehabilitation at the center, and prior to release. Serum cTnI concentrations were compared between seals that did or did not survive rehabilitation. RESULTS Median serum cTnI concentration was highest at admission (0.03 ng/mL). After 2 weeks, the median value was 0.01 ng/mL; prior to release, it was 0.01 ng/mL. Seal pups that were found to have died during or after rehabilitation (n = 7) had a significantly higher median serum cTnI concentration at admission (0.06 ng/mL) than did seal pups that survived rehabilitation (and for which the postrelease fate was unknown; 48; 0.03 ng/mL). No correlation was identified between serum cTnI concentration and duration of rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results of this study suggested some degree of myocardial injury was present in most of the orphaned seal pups admitted for rehabilitation. Measurement of serum cTnI concentration in seal pups at admission might provide prognostic information about their likelihood of survival during or after rehabilitation.

show abstract

“…15 Seals may be injured by fishing activities, which is common in the Wadden Sea, not only as bycatch but also by ingestion of fishing hooks or other interaction with fishing equipment. 8,9 The presence of fishing equipment was not observed in any of the 19 seals reported here. If a puncture wound is deep enough, it may introduce microorganisms into joints, which leads easily to an osteoarthritis resistant to the immune system and antibiotics, resulting in a later necrotizing infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA)

García¹,

Contreras²,

Acosta³

et al. 2015

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In 2012, 543 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and 124 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were admitted to the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Pieterburen, The Netherlands. In 19 seals (3%), signs of infection in a hind flipper were observed. Initial treatment consisting of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs resolved the symptoms in 15 animals. In four harbor seals, estimated to be 3 to 4 mo old, a necrotizing infection developed that resulted in osteoarthritis of the tarsus or tibiotarsal joint or both. Bacterial culture revealed the presence of polymicrobial infection in three of the four animals. Treatment consisted of amputation of the hind flipper under general anesthesia combined with tumescent anesthesia in the operation field. Amputations were done at the diaphysis of the tibia and fibula. After resecting these bones, the flipper was discarded, leaving a good muscle-skin cuff to cover the edges of the bones and close the skin without tension. The estimated blood loss varied between <50 to 150 ml. Healing was uneventful, and both antibiotics and analgesics were gradually reduced according to the individual response. The seals did not show any functional impairment 1 mo postoperatively. After release to the sea, scrutinous revision of all radiographs showed signs of osteomyelitis in at least one animal in the proximal part of the tibia, also present preoperatively. It is concluded that tumescent anesthesia in seals may reduce perioperative blood loss and that a lower leg amputation is a surgically easy and clean approach for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hind flipper of seals, giving good functional results (diving, catching fish, exiting a pool, and moving on land).

show abstract

Patterns of Stranding and Mortality in Common Seals (Phoca vitulina) and Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in The Netherlands between 1979 and 2008

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Novel B19-Like Parvovirus in the Brain of a Harbor Seal

Novel B19-Like Parvovirus in the Brain of a Harbor Seal

Usefulness of serum cardiac troponin I concentration as a marker of survival of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups during rehabilitation

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About