SURVEY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN FUR SEAL (ARCTOCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS) POPULATION AT PUNTA SAN JUAN, PERU

Abstract

The Peruvian population of the South American fur seal ( Arctocephalus australis ) is a distinct evolutionarily significant unit that is endangered. One of the largest rookeries for this species in Peru is located within the Punta San Juan marine protected area (15°22'S, 75°12'W). To better understand the current health status of this population, exposure to 10 pinniped pathogens was evaluated in adult female fur seals (n=29) via serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in November 2010. The results suggest this population is naïve to canine and phocine distemper viruses (serum neutralization test), five Leptospira interrogans serovars (microscopic agglutination test), and Brucella canis (card test). Indirect fluorescent antibody testing for Toxoplasma gondii , Neospora caninum , and Sarcocystis neurona was also uniformly negative. PCR testing of nasal swabs using previously described Mycoplasma spp. primers was positive in 37.9% (11/29) of samples. One animal was positive via card test for Brucella abortus , whereas 53.7% (15/28) were positive or suspect using a marine Brucella competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody to phocine herpesvirus-1 (PHV-1) was identified in 85.7% (24/28) of the sampled population by serum neutralization testing. Overall, exposure to Mycoplasma spp., Brucella spp., and PHV-1 was observed, but results demonstrated low to no exposure to many key pinniped pathogens. The expansion of human populations, agriculture, and industry along the Peruvian coast may lead to increased pathogen exposure from human, domestic, and wild animal sources. The naïve nature of this key population of South American fur seals raises concerns about potential risk for disease outbreaks.

Disconnects in global discourses—the unintended consequences of marine mammal protection on small-scale fishers

“…In extreme cases, fishers can react to conflict with mammals through illegal behaviour, which can result in shooting or poisoning them (17,18). These actions ultimately exacerbate the human-wildlife conflict and threaten marine-mammal population recovery (19). The scale of interactions between small-scale fisheries and marine mammal populations, especially pinnipeds, is increasing.…”

“…Since the 1970's, populations of South American sea lions (O. flavescens) in Peru and Chile have recovered strongly from commercial exploitation, which was banned fully in the 1990s. Conversely, since the 1997-1998 ENSO event (19) fur seals are considered in danger of extinction along the Peruvian coast. Note, that in the material to follow we focus our discussion on the South American sea lion, as interactions are correspondingly more common in the study area (27).…”

The Seal Louse (Echinophthirius horridus) in the Dutch Wadden Sea: Investigation of Vector-Borne Pathogens and Morphological Adaptations

“…in tested animals [46]. Furthermore, PCR testing of nasal swabs detected presence of Mycoplasma spp.-DNA in South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) populations in Peru with an estimated prevalence of 37.9% [50], evidencing rather cosmopolitan distribution of mycoplasmas in pinnipeds. However, some mycoplasmas (e.g.…”

Peruvian fur seals (Arctocephalus australis ssp.) and South American sea lions (Otaria byronia) in Peru are exposed to the harmful algal toxins domoic acid and okadaic acid

“…The breeding populations at PSJ represent 36% and 12% of the total Peruvian population of FS and SL, respectively (SC‐A, personal observation), thus incorporating HAB toxin analysis into current PSJ disease surveillance efforts can be used as a model for assessing HAB exposure in pinnipeds throughout the Humboldt Current system (IMARPE , Jankowski et al . ). Independent of HABs, the impacts of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can be catastrophic on Peruvian FS populations (Arias‐Schreiber and Rivas , Stevens and Boness ).…”

“…We propose that the Humboldt Current system is a region that deserves at least an initial investigative effort, since it also experiences seasonal increases in HABs that cooccur with pinniped breeding seasons Reyes 1989, Trainer et al 2010). The breeding populations at PSJ represent 36% and 12% of the total Peruvian population of FS and SL, respectively (SC-A, personal observation), thus incorporating HAB toxin analysis into current PSJ disease surveillance efforts can be used as a model for assessing HAB exposure in pinnipeds throughout the Humboldt Current system (IMARPE 2013, Jankowski et al 2015. Independent of HABs, the impacts of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can be catastrophic on Peruvian FS populations (Arias-Schreiber andRivas 1998, Stevens andBoness 2003).…”