Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
|---|
| muscle metabolic profiles and fiber-type composition in some marine mammals. | 1. hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, 3-hydroxyacyl-coa dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase activities as well as fiber type composition were determined in skeletal muscles of the california sea lion (zalophus californianus), the sea otter (enhydra lutris), and the pacific white-sided dolphin (lagenorhynchus obliquidens). 2. the subcutaneous muscle of the sea lion had intermediate glycolytic and oxidative enzyme activities. 3. the locomotory muscles examined in the otter and porpoise did not ... | 1978 | 318281 |
| coccidioidomycosis in a california sea otter (enhydra lutris). | a weak and emaciated california sea otter (enhydra lutris) was found stranded on atascadero beach in morro bay, california. it died three weeks after capture. a diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis was confirmed by histology, serology and culture. this is believed to be the first reported case of this disease from the morro bay area of san luis obispo county, california as well as the first reported case in a free-ranging marine mammal. | 1979 | 501839 |
| [adaptive changes in the cardiac automatism of the sea otter enhydra lutris]. | electrographic investigations in sea otters reveal acute decrease in the heart rate (to 1/2--1/8 of the normal rate) during diving. the longer the dive, the more intense the bradycardia. each partial exhalation under water causes further decrease in the heart rate. the duration of cardiac cycles (r--r) increases mainly at the expense of the prolongation of diastole (t--p). variations in the heart rate during submersion result from the increased vagal tone. atropine injections abolish diving brad ... | 2006 | 574346 |
| [comparative anatomy of the spinal cord of semi-aquatic, aquatic and terrestrial mammals]. | skeletotopically, cervical thickening of the spinal cord in semiwater mammals (callorhinus ursinus, eumetopias jubatus, phoca larga, phoca kurilensis, enhydra lutris) corresponds to 4--5, and in terrestrial mammals (ursus arctos, vulpes vulpes)--to 3--6 cervical vertebrae. lumbar thickening in terrestrial spicies and in enhydra lutris is situated more caudally from the thoracic portion than in phocidae. in a typically water animal (phocaenoides dalli) the cervical thickening is expressed feebly, ... | 1978 | 736804 |
| comparison of anesthetic agents in the sea otter. | five anesthetic agents (c1744, etorphine, fentanyl, ketamine hydrochloride, and halothane) were tested to establish the dosage of a safe, effective, short-acting anesthetic for use in the sea otter. etorphine, at a dosage of 0.75 mg per adult otter and used in conjunction with diazepam, at a dosage of 1.25 mg per adult otter, met most of the requirements for use under field conditions. halothane, administered through an anesthetic machine, proved to be effective for use in a veterinary hospital. | 1978 | 738930 |
| tooth trauma and feeding behavior in prehistoric aleutian sea otters. | 1976 | 779228 | |
| raising orphaned sea otter pups. | 1992 | 1399767 | |
| lead sources to california sea otters: industrial inputs circumvent natural lead biodepletion mechanisms. | lead levels (as pb/ca atom ratios) and stable isotopic compositions were measured in teeth of preindustrial and contemporary california sea otters (enhydra lutris) to determine if postindustrial changes had occurred in the magnitude and source of accumulated lead. lead/calcium atom ratios (means +/- sd) in teeth of some contemporary animals (110 +/- 37 x 10(-8), n = 3) were significantly elevated compared to levels in other contemporary (13 +/- 6.0 x 10(-8), n = 4) and preindustrial (7.3 +/- 3.9 ... | 1992 | 1568438 |
| aquatic ape theory and fossil hominids. | while most older palaeo-anthropological studies emphasise the similarities of the fossil hominids with modern man, recent studies often stress the unique and the apelike features of the australopithecine dentitions, skulls and postcranial bones. it is worth reconsidering the features of australopithecus, homo erectus and homo neanderthalensis in the light of the so-called aquatic ape theory (aat) of hardy and morgan, and to compare the skeletal parts of our fossil relatives with those of (semi)a ... | 1991 | 1909768 |
| the future of dna-dna hybridization studies. | this article draws on many vertebrate examples to assess the future of dna-dna hybridization studies. i first discuss whether applications of the method have reached the point of diminishing returns, or rather the start of a great leap forward, in our evolutionary understanding. vertebrate groups whose relationships are especially likely to be illuminated include parrots, pigeons, bats, pinnipeds, mammalian carnivores, frogs, and rodents. there are at least two reasons why classifications based ... | 1990 | 2109084 |
| refractive state, ocular anatomy, and accommodative range of the sea otter (enhydra lutris). | sea otters are carnivorous, amphibious mammals that are active both above and under water. accordingly, it might be expected that their eyes are adapted for both aerial and aqueous vision. we examined the anatomy and physiological optics of the sea otter eye with a view towards describing and explaining its amphibious visual characteristics. we employed photokeratoscopy to measure the refractive power of the sea otter cornea, which we found to be 59 d. using video dynamic photorefraction, we fou ... | 1990 | 2321364 |
| adaptations to deep breath-hold diving: respiratory and circulatory mechanics. | respiration and circulation in diving mammals are characterized by interrelated adaptations of structure, function, and behavior that are incompletely described and understood. this speculative survey touches some of them. a) arterial blood flow can be controlled by vasoconstriction not only in arterioles but also in large arteries. the latter physiology is not well known. b) mechanisms that might regulate and limit nitrogen uptake are not clear, although scholander's suggestion that airspaces b ... | 1989 | 2678665 |
| swimming by sea otters: adaptations for low energetic cost locomotion. | the energetics and hydrodynamics of surface and submerged swimming were compared in the sea otter (enhydra lutris). 1. sea otters used two distinct speed ranges that varied with swimming mode. sustained surface swimming was limited to speeds less than 0.80 m/s, while sustained submerged swimming occurred over the range of 0.60 to 1.39 m/s. 2. rates of oxygen consumption (vo2) at the transition speed (0.80 m/s) were 41% lower for submerged swimming by sea otters in comparison to surface swimming. ... | 1989 | 2724187 |
| scoliosis and uterine torsion in a pregnant sea otter (enhydra lutris) from california. | scoliosis and uterine torsion are described in a pregnant adult sea otter (enhydra lutris) tagged 3 yr prior to death. apparently, severe scoliosis in sea otters can be compatible with good nutritional status and a life-span measured in years. no causal correlation of this condition with the animal's death was established. | 1988 | 3411722 |
| the structure and function of the small airways in pinniped and sea otter lungs. | 1973 | 4688284 | |
| observations on the anatomy of the respiratory system of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal. i. the topography, weight, and measurements of the lungs. | 1973 | 4694943 | |
| observations on the anatomy of the respiratory system of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal. ii. the trachea and bronchial tree. | 1973 | 4694944 | |
| maternal behavior in the california sea otter. | 1973 | 4744932 | |
| locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (mammalia). | 1972 | 5055119 | |
| gas transport and oxygen storage capacity in some pinnipeds and the sea otter. | 1970 | 5445188 | |
| the ovary of the sea otter. | 1968 | 5666667 | |
| nasal mites (halarachnidae) in the sea otter. | 1965 | 5848829 | |
| tool-using behaviour of the californian sea otter. | 1965 | 5891597 | |
| placentation of the sea otter. | 1966 | 5972735 | |
| underwater vision of the sea otter. | 1967 | 6057244 | |
| cholangiocellular adenocarcinoma, leiomypma, and pheochromocytoma in a sea otter. | 1981 | 6276352 | |
| idiopathic scoliosis in a newborn sea otter, enhydra lutris (l.). | 1984 | 6492332 | |
| pneumoperitoneum associated with intestinal volvulus in a sea otter. | 1983 | 6643249 | |
| surgical implantation of radiotelemetry devices in the sea otter. | 1983 | 6643250 | |
| hematology and blood chemistry in the sea otter (enhydra lutris). | 1983 | 6842733 | |
| fentanyl and azaperone produced neuroleptanalgesia in the sea otter (enhydra lutris). | 1981 | 7310941 | |
| leiomyomas in two sea otters, enhydra lutris. | 1981 | 7310948 | |
| clinical and clinical laboratory correlates in sea otters dying unexpectedly in rehabilitation centers following the exxon valdez oil spill. | following the exxon valdez oil spill, 347 oiled sea otters (enhydra lutris) were treated in rehabilitation centers. of these, 116 died, 94 within 10 days of presentation. clinical records of 21 otters dying during the first 10 days of rehabilitation were reviewed to define the laboratory abnormalities and clinical syndromes associated with these unexpected deaths. the most common terminal syndrome was shock characterized by hypothermia, lethargy, and often hemorrhagic diarrhea. in heavily and mo ... | 1995 | 7483208 |
| histopathologic lesions in sea otters exposed to crude oil. | following the exxon valdez oil spill in prince william sound, alaska, sea otters (enhydra lutris) that appeared to be contaminated with oil, that were in danger of becoming contaminated, or that were behaving abnormally were captured and taken to rehabilitation centers. exposure to oil was assessed by visual examination when otters arrived at the centers. degree of oil exposure was graded according to the following criteria: oil covering greater than 60% of the body--heavily contaminated; oil co ... | 1993 | 8442322 |
| molecular cloning and sequencing of interleukin 6 cdna fragments from the harbor seal (phoca vitulina), killer whale (orcinus orca), and southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). | using polymerase chain reaction, interleukin-6 (il-6) cdna fragments from harbor seal (phoca vitulina), killer whale (orcinus orca), and southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) were cloned and sequenced. for all three species, a continuous open reading frame encoding 203 residues for harbor seal, 199 residues for killer whale, and 201 residues for sea otter with stop codons located at analogous positions were identified. these fragments correspond to nucleotides 71 - 753 of the human il-6 tra ... | 1996 | 8575817 |
| chemical restraint and anesthesia of sea otters affected by the oil spill in prince william sound, alaska. | 1996 | 8675470 | |
| light and scanning electron microscopic study on the lingual papillae in the newborn sea otter enhydra lutris. | the tongue of enhydra lutris (sea otter), died from brain contusion at the first day of its age, was investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy in this study. three types of papillae (filiform, fungiform and circumvallate papillae) were present on this tongue. in our evaluation, the filiform papillae were divided into four shapes which were conical, club-shaped, large horny and triangular papillae. the different types of filiform papillae were located in different area of this tongue ... | 1996 | 8741387 |
| malignant seminoma with metastasis and herpesvirus infection in a free-living sea otter (enhydra lutris). | in winter 1990, an adult male sea otter (enhydra lutris) was found dead along the eastern shore of prince william sound, alaska. necropsy findings included an enlarged retained left testicle with a twisted spermatic cord, enlarged left sublumbar lymph node, emaciation, dental attrition, oral papules and ulcers, and luminal intestinal hemorrhage associated with numerous acanthocephalids. a malignant seminoma was present in the left testicle and left sublumbar lymph node. additionally, herpesvirus ... | 1998 | 9638623 |
| coccidioidomycosis in a bottlenose dolphin. | a stranded bottlenose dolphin (tursiops truncatus gilli) succumbed to a pulmonary infection of coccidioides immitis. the dolphin initially presented with mild inspiratory dyspnea that rapidly worsened over 48 hr to include buoyancy abnormalities and finally death. at necropsy, caseous nodules were observed throughout the lungs and perihilar lymph nodes. on histological examination of tissues, double walled organisms containing endospores characteristic of c. immitis were observed in lung, perihi ... | 1998 | 9706575 |
| [allozyme variation in the sea otter (enhydra lutris l. 1758). analysis of materials from animals that died on bering island in the winter of 1992/1993]. | by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 42 enzymes and five nonenzyme proteins presumably encoded by 62 loci were studied. the samples were taken from 72 sea otters (enhydra lutris l.) that perished on bering island (komandor islands) in winter 1992-1993. the values of allozyme variation parameters (p0.95 = 0.339; p0.99 = = 0.371; na = 1.40; hob = 0.075, and hexp = 0.099) were higher than those found earlier by the author and american investigators. these results do not confirm the assoc ... | 1998 | 9719914 |
| killer whale predation on sea otters linking oceanic and nearshore ecosystems | after nearly a century of recovery from overhunting, sea otter populations are in abrupt decline over large areas of western alaska. increased killer whale predation is the likely cause of these declines. elevated sea urchin density and the consequent deforestation of kelp beds in the nearshore community demonstrate that the otter's keystone role has been reduced or eliminated. this chain of interactions was probably initiated by anthropogenic changes in the offshore oceanic ecosystem. | 1998 | 9774274 |
| [low level of variability of mitochondrial dna in sea otter populations from kamchatka and komandor islands]. | variation in populations of sea otter enhydra lutris lutris from komandor islands and kamchatka was studied in segment b1-b2 of cytochrome b gene and in the control region (main noncoding region) of mitochondrial dna (mtdna) by means of restriction analysis. the total sample size was 59 animals. polymorphism was recorded only in the control mtdna region for one restriction endonuclease (mboi). frequencies of polymorphic variants were 64.7 and 35.3%, respectively. the low level of mtdna variation ... | 1999 | 10330607 |
| encephalomyelitis associated with a sarcocystis neurona-like organism in a sea otter. | an adult female sea otter housed for 5 years in an outdoor habitat in an aquarium developed signs of neurologic disease. bilateral caudal paresis was evident initially and other neurologic signs consistent with cns disease developed rapidly. diagnostic work-up included cbc, serum biochemical analyses, determination of serum antibody titers, radiography of the vertebral column, csf analysis, muscle biopsy, computed tomography of the brain, and assays for mercury, lead, and thiamine. a tentative d ... | 1999 | 10613219 |
| biological characterisation of sarcocystis neurona isolated from a southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). | sarcocystis neurona was isolated from the brain of a juvenile, male southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) suffering from cns disease. schizonts and merozoites in tissue sections of the otter's brain reacted with anti-s. neurona antiserum immunohistochemically. development in cell culture was by endopolyogeny and mature schizonts were first observed at 3 days postinoculation. pcr of merozoite dna using primer pairs jnb33/jnb54 and restriction enzyme digestion of the 1100 bp product with dra ... | 2000 | 10779575 |
| long-term impacts of the exxon valdez oil spill on sea otters, assessed through age-dependent mortality patterns. | we use age distributions of sea otters (enhydra lutris) found dead on beaches of western prince william sound, alaska, between 1976 and 1998 in conjunction with time-varying demographic models to test for lingering effects from the 1989 exxon valdez oil spill. our results show that sea otters in this area had decreased survival rates in the years following the spill and that the effects of the spill on annual survival increased rather than dissipated for older animals. otters born after the 1989 ... | 2000 | 10823920 |
| organization of the retinal ganglion layer and retinal resolution in the sea otter (enhydra lutris). | 2016 | 10833638 | |
| biological and molecular characterizations of toxoplasma gondii strains obtained from southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis). | toxoplasma gondii was isolated from brain or heart tissue from 15 southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) in cell cultures. these strains were used to infect mice that developed antibodies to t. gondii as detected in the modified direct agglutination test and had t. gondii tissue cysts in their brains at necropsy. mouse brains containing tissue cysts from 4 of the strains were fed to 4 cats. two of the cats excreted t. gondii oocysts in their feces that were infectious for mice. molecular an ... | 2000 | 10864250 |
| ganglion cells density and retinal resolution in the sea otter, enhydra lutris. | the topographic distribution, density, and size of ganglion cells were studied in retinal wholemounts of the sea otter, enhydra lutris. the cell distribution showed a well defined horizontal streak of higher cell density, and within this streak, a narrow area of the highest cell density. the peak cell density in this area ranged from 4050 to 4400 cells/mm(2), with a mean of 4225 cells/mm(2). the ganglion cell size ranged from 7 microm to 47 microm but the majority of cells were 7 to 30 microm. c ... | 2000 | 10899706 |
| the origin of lecithodesmus (digenea: campulidae) based on nd3 gene comparison. | species of lecithodesmus (campulidae) occur almost exclusively in baleen whales throughout a wide geographical distribution. other campulids occur only in odontocetes and, secondarily, in pinnipeds and the sea otter. therefore, the ancestor of lecithodesmus might have either cospeciated with mysticetes during the early divergence of mysticete and odontocete cetaceans or originated later via host switching. we evaluate both possibilities based on a phylogenetic analysis. the nd3 mitochondrial gen ... | 2000 | 10958470 |
| evaluation of changes in hematologic and clinical biochemical values after exposure to petroleum products in mink (mustela vison) as a model for assessment of sea otters (enhydra lutris). | to determine the effects of petroleum exposure on hematologic and clinical biochemical results of mink and to identify variables that may be useful for making management decisions involving sea otters (enhydra lutris) that have been exposed to oil in their environment. | 2000 | 11039547 |
| a generalized fecal glucocorticoid assay for use in a diverse array of nondomestic mammalian and avian species. | noninvasive fecal glucocorticoid analysis has tremendous potential as a means of assessing stress associated with environmental disturbance in wildlife. however, interspecific variation in excreted glucocorticoid metabolites requires careful selection of the antibody used in their quantification. we compared four antibodies for detecting the major fecal cortisol metabolites in yellow baboons following (3)h cortisol administration, acth challenge, and hplc separation of fecal glucocorticoid metab ... | 2000 | 11121291 |
| a review of sarcocystis neurona and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). | equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a serious neurological disease of horses in the americas. the protozoan most commonly associated with epm is sarcocystis neurona. the complete life cycle of s. neurona is unknown, including its natural intermediate host that harbors its sarcocyst. opossums (didelphis virginiana, didelphis albiventris) are its definitive hosts. horses are considered its aberrant hosts because only schizonts and merozoites (no sarcocysts) are found in horses. epm-like di ... | 2001 | 11223193 |
| relationships among sarcocystis species transmitted by new world opossums (didelphis spp.). | at least three species of sarcocystis (s. neurona, s. falcatula, s. speeri) have recently been shown to use opossums of the genus didelphis as their definitive host. in order to evaluate the evolutionary relationships among sarcocystis spp. isolates from the americas, and to determine whether organisms representing the same parasite lineages are transmitted north and south of the panamanian isthmus, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships from nucleotide sequence variation in parasites isolat ... | 2001 | 11223194 |
| myocarditis and encephalitis associated with sarcocystis neurona infection in raccoons (procyon lotor). | sarcocystis neurona associated granulomatous encephalitis was found in 2 of 84 adult raccoons. both raccoons also had an extensive nonsuppurative myocarditis and one had s. neurona schizonts and merozoites in the myocardium. only the asexual stages (schizonts and merozoites) of s. neurona are found in tissues of naturally infected animals (horse, mink, raccoons, cats, skunk, pony, seals, sea otters) and since these have not been reported outside the central nervous system, the presence of concur ... | 2001 | 11223214 |
| isolation and characterization of sarcocystis from brain tissue of a free-living southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) with fatal meningoencephalitis. | a protozoan was isolated in cell culture from the brain of a free-ranging sea otter with fatal meningoencephalitis. the biological history of this otter, a study animal being monitored via an intraperitoneal radio transmitter, is summarized. histologically, protozoal parasites were associated with areas of brain inflammation and necrosis in the cerebrum and cerebellum. morphology and measurements of fixed, giemsa-stained protozoal zoites growing on coverslips were consistent with sarcocystis. th ... | 2001 | 11293576 |
| organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and butyltin compounds in blubber and livers of stranded california sea lions, elephant seals, and harbor seals from coastal california, usa. | concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), ddts (p,p'-dde, p,p'-ddd, p,p'-ddt), chlordanes (chls; cis-chlordane, cis-nonachlor, trans-nonachlor, and oxychlordane), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (hchs), hexachlorobenzene (hcb), tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane (tcpme), tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (tcpmoh), and mono- (mbt), di-(dbt), and tri-butyltin (tbt) were determined in blubber and livers of 15 california sea lions (zalophus californianus), 6 northern elephant seals (mirounga augustirost ... | 2001 | 11385594 |
| dual sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii infection in a northern sea otter from washington state, usa. | dual sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii infection was observed in a northern sea otter from washington, usa. the animal was found stranded, convulsed, and died shortly thereafter. encephalitis caused by both s. neurona and t. gondii was demonstrated in histological sections of brain. immunohistochemical examination of sections with s. neurona specific antisera demonstrated developmental stages that divided by endopolygeny and produced numerous merozoites. pcr of brain tissue from the sea ... | 2001 | 11390085 |
| osmoregulation in marine mammals. | osmoregulation in marine mammals has been investigated for over a century; however, a review of recent advances in our understanding of water and electrolyte balance and of renal function in marine mammals is warranted. the following topics are discussed: (i) kidney structure and urine concentrating ability, (ii) sources of water, (iii) the effects of feeding, fasting and diving, (iv) the renal responses to infusions of varying salinity and (v) hormonal regulation. the kidneys of pinnipeds and c ... | 2001 | 11441026 |
| disseminated histoplasmosis in a sea otter (enhydra lutris). | disseminated histoplasmosis was diagnosed in a 4.75-year-old, captive female sea otter (enhydra lutris). at necropsy, the liver was found to be markedly swollen, with many nodules (4-12 mm in diameter). histologically, macrophages containing numerous intracellular yeast-like organisms were noted in the liver, spleen, lung and kidney. these organisms were labelled immunohistochemically with anti-histoplasma yeast antibody. ultrastructurally, the yeast-like organisms, 2-4 microm in diameter, were ... | 2001 | 11578140 |
| evolutionary consequences of food chain length in kelp forest communities. | kelp forests are strongly influenced by macroinvertebrate grazing on fleshy macroalgae. in the north pacific ocean, sea otter predation on macroinvertebrates substantially reduces the intensity of herbivory on macroalgae. temperate australasia, in contrast, has no known predator of comparable influence. these ecological and biogeographic patterns led us to predict that (i) the intensity of herbivory should be greater in temperate australasia than in the north pacific ocean; thus (ii) australasia ... | 1995 | 11607573 |
| effects of petroleum on mink applied as a model for reproductive success in sea otters. | ranch-reared mink (mustela vison) were used as a model in an experimental trial to investigate the potential effects of exposure to two petroleum products on sea otters (enhydra lutris). mink were exposed either dermally on one occasion 60 days prior to breeding or via low level contamination of their diets daily from 60 days prior to breeding (january 1994) until weaning of kits (june 1994). for dermal exposure, we placed mink in either a slick of alaskan north slope crude oil (n = 24) or bunke ... | 2001 | 11763732 |
| sarcocystis neurona infections in sea otter (enhydra lutris): evidence for natural infections with sarcocysts and transmission of infection to opossums (didelphis virginiana). | although sarcocystis neurona has been identified in an array of terrestrial vertebrates, recent recognition of its capacity to infect marine mammals was unexpected. here, sarcocysts from 2 naturally infected sea otters (enhydra lutris) were characterized biologically, ultrastructurally, and genetically. dna was extracted from frozen muscle of the first of these sea otters and was characterized as s. neurona by polymerase chain reation (pcr) amplification followed by restriction fragment length p ... | 2001 | 11780826 |
| control of reproduction and sex related behaviour in exotic wild carnivores with the gnrh analogue deslorelin: preliminary observations. | the gnrh analogue deslorelin, in long-acting implants, was used in an attempt to temporarily control reproduction or aggression in wild carnivores in southern africa and the usa. in the southern african study, 6 mg deslorelin was administered to cheetahs (eight females, four males), one female leopard and wild dogs (six females, one male) housed in groups, and 12 mg deslorelin was administered to two lionesses. none of the animals became pregnant after deslorelin administration apart from one wi ... | 2001 | 11787162 |
| modern ct applications in veterinary medicine. | although computed tomography (ct) is used primarily for diagnosis in humans, it can also be used to diagnose disease in veterinary patients. ct and associated three-dimensional reconstruction have a role in diagnosis of a range of illnesses in a variety of animals. in a sea turtle with failure to thrive, ct showed a nodal mass in the chest, granulomas in the lungs, and a ball in the stomach. ct of a sea dragon with balance and movement problems showed absence of the swim bladder. in a sloth with ... | 2002 | 11796898 |
| molecular epidemiology of feline bordetellosis in two animal shelters in california, usa. | "kennel cough" in dogs in animal shelters is readily transmissible, reduces adoption rates, and commonly leads to the euthanasia of affected dogs. in cats, tracheobronchitis, conjunctivitis, and pneumonia have been associated with bordetella bronchiseptica infection-but most cases of upper-respiratory infection (uri) probably are caused by herpesvirus and calicivirus, and many b. bronchiseptica culture-positive cats are clinically normal. our prospective observational study was undertaken to doc ... | 2002 | 12069777 |
| coastal freshwater runoff is a risk factor for toxoplasma gondii infection of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis). | the association among anthropogenic environmental disturbance, pathogen pollution and the emergence of infectious diseases in wildlife has been postulated, but not always well supported by epidemiologic data. specific evidence of coastal contamination of the marine ecosystem with the zoonotic protozoan parasite, toxoplasma gondii, and extensive infection of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) along the california coast was documented by this study. to investigate the extent of exposure a ... | 2002 | 12076629 |
| evaluation of an indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat) for demonstration of antibodies to toxoplasma gondii in the sea otter (enhydra lutris). | an indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat) for detection of toxoplasma gondii infection was validated using serum from 77 necropsied southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) whose t. gondii infection status was determined through immunohistochemistry and parasite isolation in cell culture. twenty-eight otters (36%) were positive for t. gondii by immunohistochemistry or parasite isolation or both, whereas 49 (64%) were negative by both tests. at a cutoff of 1:320, combined values for ifat se ... | 2002 | 12099433 |
| validation of a cell culture bioassay for detection of petroleum exposure in mink (mustela vison) as a model for detection in sea otters (enhydra lutris). | to validate a luciferase bioassay, which is based on a recombinant mouse hepatoma cell line, for the detection of exposure to petroleum in mustelid species. | 2002 | 12118676 |
| lymphosarcoma in a sea otter (enhydra lutris). | lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma involving the mesenteric lymph node and thymus was discovered in a 4 yr old male sea otter (enhydra lutris). diagnosis was based on gross and light microscopic studies. the cause of this neoplasm was not determined. this is the first case of lymphosarcoma reported in sea otters. | 2002 | 12238382 |
| loss of genetic diversity in sea otters (enhydra lutris) associated with the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. | sea otter (enhydra lutris) populations experienced widespread reduction and extirpation due to the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. we examined genetic variation within four microsatellite markers and the mitochondrial dna (mtdna) d-loop in one prefur trade population and compared it to five modern populations to determine potential losses in genetic variation. while mtdna sequence variability was low within both modern and extinct populations, analysis of microsatellite allelic data re ... | 2002 | 12296934 |
| measurement of serum immunoglobulin concentration in killer whales and sea otters by radial immunodiffusion. | killer whales and sea otters maintained in captivity are the subjects of routine health monitoring programs, and interest in immunologic studies in sea otters has been rising recently in response to potential impacts from infectious disease and environmental pollution on the threatened southern sea otter population. development of species-specific reagents for immunologic studies in these two marine mammals is currently in its infancy. in this study, killer whale and sea otter immunoglobulin-spe ... | 2002 | 12383650 |
| temporal variations of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in sea otter skull tissue in the north pacific ocean. | marine mammals being among the top predators in the food web tend to accumulate organic and inorganic contaminants from the environment. the body burden of contaminants in these species could reflect their foods and thus contaminant levels could serve as proxies on the changes of ecosystem. a pilot study was carried out to investigate the possibility of radionuclide leakage at amchitka using a suite of sea otter (enhydra lutris) skulls collected near amchitka nuclear test-sites before (1950s) an ... | 2003 | 12469767 |
| helminth parasites of the southern sea otter enhydra lutris nereis in central california: abundance, distribution and pathology. | from october 1997 to may 2001, the gastrointestinal tracts from 162 beach-cast southern sea otters enhydra lutris nereis were examined for helminth parasites and associated lesions. carcasses were collected opportunistically in central california between pt. san pedro and pt. arguello. the primary goals of this study were to examine spatial and temporal variability in mortality due to parasite infection, identify factors associated with increased risk of infection, and illustrate the process of ... | 2003 | 12608572 |
| influence of age, sex, capture technique, and restraint on hematologic measurements and serum chemistries of wild california sea otters. | hematologic and/or serum chemical analyses were done on a total of 27 non-tranquilized adult and juvenile wild sea otters, 66 tranquilized adult and juvenile wild sea otters, and 26 wild sea otter pups. the median and inner 90 percentile range were determined for the adult, juvenile, and pup groups and for the following subgroups: adult male versus adult female, juvenile male versus juvenile female, pup male versus pup female, captured with dip net versus captured with wilson trap, and tranquili ... | 1992 | 12671789 |
| could cat waste be killing sea otters? | 2003 | 12675284 | |
| characterization and clinical manifestations of arcanobacterium phocae infections in marine mammals stranded along the central california coast. | between 1994 and 2000, 141 arcanobacterium phocae isolates were recovered from marine mammals that stranded along the central california coast (usa). arcanobacterium phocae was cultured from tissue sites with abnormal discharge or evidence of inflammation in 66 california sea lions (zalophus californianus), 50 pacific harbor seals (phoca vitulina richardii), 19 northern elephant seals (mirounga angustirostris), five southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis), and one common dolphin (delphinus d ... | 2003 | 12685077 |
| age-related change and allometry of skull and canine of sea otters, enhydra lutris. | skulls and canines of 460 sea otters from lopatka cape, kamchatka, were examined to assess development patterns, individual variation and sexual differences. an allometric formula was applied to morphometrical data, and the relative growth of each character to total length of skull was analyzed. in both sexes, most morphometrical characters ceased growth at about 2 years of age. canine root length increased rapidly during the first year of life, while crown length decreased due to remarkable wea ... | 2003 | 12736424 |
| sarcocysts of an unidentified species of sarcocystis in the sea otter (enhydra lutris). | the number of sarcocystis species that infect sea otters (enhydra lutris) is unknown. sea otter tissues were recently shown to harbor sarcocysts of s. neurona and of unidentified species of sarcocystis. whereas sarcocysts of s. neurona have walls 1-3 microm thick with type 9 villar protrusions, ultrastructure of a distinct thin-walled sarcocyst (0.5-0.7 microm thick) lacking villar protrusions, but instead exhibiting minute type 1 undulations on the sarcocyst wall, is described in this report. p ... | 2003 | 12760665 |
| chemical anesthesia of northern sea otters (enhydra lutris): results of past field studies. | between 1987 and 1997, we chemically immobilized 597 wild sea otters (enhydra lutris) in alaska for the collection of biological samples or for surgical instrumentation. one drug-related sea otter fatality occurred during this time. fentanyl in combination with diazepam produced consistent, smooth inductions with minimal need for supplemental anesthetics during procedures lasting 30-40 min. antagonism with naltrexone or naloxone was rapid and complete, although we observed narcotic recycling in ... | 2001 | 12790418 |
| noninvasive reproductive steroid hormone estimates from fecal samples of captive female sea otters (enhydra lutris). | noninvasive methods were validated for monitoring fecal metabolites of reproductive hormones (total estrogens and progestagens) in sea otters. several captive female sea otters were sampled an average of two to three times per week over at least 1 year to document the reproductive hormone levels within each major reproductive event (estrus, anestrus, luteal phase, and pregnancy). we report significant differences in reproductive hormone levels consistent with most reproductive categories, as wel ... | 2003 | 13129499 |
| molecular and bioassay-based detection of toxoplasma gondii oocyst uptake by mussels (mytilus galloprovincialis). | toxoplasma gondii is associated with morbidity and mortality in a variety of marine mammals, including fatal meningoencephalitis in the southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). the source(s) of t. gondii infection and routes of transmission in the marine environment are unknown. we hypothesise that filter-feeding marine bivalve shellfish serve as paratenic hosts by assimilation and concentration of infective t. gondii oocysts and their subsequent predation by southern sea otters is a source o ... | 2003 | 13129531 |
| sequential megafaunal collapse in the north pacific ocean: an ongoing legacy of industrial whaling? | populations of seals, sea lions, and sea otters have sequentially collapsed over large areas of the northern north pacific ocean and southern bering sea during the last several decades. a bottom-up nutritional limitation mechanism induced by physical oceanographic change or competition with fisheries was long thought to be largely responsible for these declines. the current weight of evidence is more consistent with top-down forcing. increased predation by killer whales probably drove the sea ot ... | 2003 | 14526101 |
| patterns of mortality in southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) from 1998-2001. | detailed postmortem examination of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) found along the california (usa) coast has provided an exceptional opportunity to understand factors influencing survival in this threatened marine mammal species. in order to evaluate recent trends in causes of mortality, the demographic and geographic distribution of causes of death in freshly deceased beachcast sea otters necropsied from 1998-2001 were evaluated. protozoal encephalitis, acanthocephalan-related dise ... | 2003 | 14567210 |
| toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum, sarcocystis neurona, and sarcocystis canis-like infections in marine mammals. | toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum, sarcocystis neurona, and s. canis are related protozoans that can cause mortality in many species of domestic and wild animals. recently, t. gondii and s. neurona were recognized to cause encephalitis in marine mammals. as yet, there is no report of natural exposure of n. caninum in marine mammals. in the present study, antibodies to t. gondii and n. caninum were assayed in sera of several species of marine mammals. for t. gondii, sera were diluted 1:25, 1:50 ... | 2003 | 14580799 |
| molecular and antigenic characterization of bordetella bronchiseptica isolated from a wild southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) with severe suppurative bronchopneumonia. | bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated in pure culture from the lung, abdomen, and intestine of a wild free-ranging southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) with severe, suppurative bronchopneumonia. immunohistochemistry, using antiserum raised to b. bronchiseptica, revealed strong positive staining of bacteria attached to bronchial ciliated epithelia as well as scattered positive staining in affected alveoli. western blot analysis demonstrated that virulence factors, filamentous hemagglutinin ... | 2003 | 14667021 |
| clinical pathology and assessment of pathogen exposure in southern and alaskan sea otters. | the southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) population in california (usa) and the alaskan sea otter (e. lutris kenyoni) population in the aleutian islands (usa) chain have recently declined. in order to evaluate disease as a contributing factor to the declines, health assessments of these two sea otter populations were conducted by evaluating hematologic and/or serum biochemical values and exposure to six marine and terrestrial pathogens using blood collected during ongoing studies from 1995 ... | 2003 | 14733279 |
| isolation and characterization of novel helicobacter spp. from the gastric mucosa of harp seals phoca groenlandica. | since the recent discovery of helicobacter cetorum in cetaceans and its role in the development of gastritis, speculation has existed as to whether pinnipeds have helicobacter spp. associated gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. the gastric mucosa of 4 stranded harp seals phoca groenlandica from the massachusetts coastline were assessed for helicobacter spp. by culture and pcr. we cultured 2 novel helicobacter spp. from the pyloric antrum of 1 of the 4 harp seals studied, and identified these by ... | 2003 | 14735915 |
| sporulation and survival of toxoplasma gondii oocysts in seawater. | we have been collaborating since 1992 in studies on southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) as part of a program to define factors, which may be responsible for limiting the growth of the southern sea otter population. we previously demonstrated toxoplasma gondii in sea otters. we postulated that cat feces containing oocysts could be entering the marine environment through storm run-off or through municipal sewage since cat feces are often disposed down toilets by cat owners. the present stu ... | 2003 | 14736220 |
| profiles of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, organochlorine pesticides, and butyltins in southern sea otters and their prey. | concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) congeners, and butyltins were measured in sea otters and selected prey species (invertebrates) collected from the california (usa) coast. polychlorinated biphenyls, ddts (sum of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [p,p'-dde], p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [p,p'-ddd], and p,p'-ddt), and butyltins were the major contaminants found in sea otters and their prey. lipid-normalized concentrations of pcbs and ddt in sea ... | 2004 | 14768866 |
| late-life action tremor in a southern sea otter (enhydris lutris nereis). | although tremor is highly prevalent in human beings, there are few reports of tremor occurring in other mammals. such tremor can further our insight into the mechanisms and anatomical basis of human tremor disorders. we report on a southern sea otter with a slowly progressive 6.5 to 8.5 hz action tremor of late life that shared several clinical characteristics with essential tremor. the main pathological finding was in the cerebellum, where there was extensive vacuolation of purkinje cells. | 2004 | 14978682 |
| metal concentrations in the liver and kidney of aquatic mammals and penguins. | we determined the hepatic and renal concentrations of cd, pb, zn, cu, and fe in (1) marine mammals (three bottle-nosed dolphins, six california sea lions, and one sea otter), (2) freshwater and brackish-water mammals (one oriental short-clawed otter and four european river otters), and (3) sea birds (three rock-hopper penguins, two king penguins, three humboldt penguins, four macaroni penguins, and four magellanic penguins), all of which were kept in a zoo and an aquarium in japan. we investigat ... | 2004 | 14985624 |
| an unusual genotype of toxoplasma gondii is common in california sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) and is a cause of mortality. | toxoplasma gondii-associated meningoencephalitis is a significant disease of california sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis), responsible for 16% of total mortality in fresh, beachcast carcasses. toxoplasma gondii isolates were obtained from 35 california otters necropsied between 1998 and 2002. based on multi-locus pcr-restriction fragment length polymorphism and dna sequencing at conserved genes (18s rdna, its-1) and polymorphic genes (b1, sag1, sag3 and gra6), two distinct genotypes were identi ... | 2004 | 15003489 |
| organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in california sea lions. | concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), ddts, chlordanes, hchs, hexachlorobenzene (hcb), dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane (tcpme), and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (tcpmoh) were measured in the blubber of california sea lions (zalophus californianus) collected in 2000. ddts were the most predominant contaminants, followed by pcbs, chlordanes, tcpme, hchs, tcpmoh, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide. concentrations of pcbs and ddts varied from a few microg/g to s ... | 2004 | 15261406 |
| immunophenotypic and functional effects of bunker c fuel oil on the immune system of american mink (mustela vison). | the relationship between exposure to environmental contaminants and immunotoxicity in vulnerable marine species is unknown. in this study, we used american mink (mustela vision) as a surrogate species for the sea otter to examine the immunotoxic effects of chronic exposure to a low concentration of bunker c fuel oil (500 ppm admixed in the feed for 113-118 days). the mink immune system was monitored over time by flow cytometric analysis for alterations in the immunophenotype of blood lymphocytes ... | 2004 | 15350748 |
| chronic fuel oil toxicity in american mink (mustela vison): systemic and hematological effects of ingestion of a low-concentration of bunker c fuel oil. | petroleum oil enters the coastal marine environment through various sources; marine mammals such as sea otters that inhabit this environment may be exposed to low concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons through ingestion of contaminated prey. the inability to perform controlled studies in free-ranging animals hinders investigations of the effects of chronic petroleum oil exposure on sea otter morbidity and mortality, necessitating the development of a reliable laboratory model. we examined the ... | 2004 | 15476867 |
| the development of methods for immunophenotypic and lymphocyte function analyzes for assessment of southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) health. | the southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) is listed as threatened under the endangered species act. the population began a pattern of slow decline in 1995. the decline was attributed to high adult mortality rates with infectious disease being the major cause of death. multiple pathogens were implicated in these deaths including opportunistic pathogens such as coccidiodes immitis and toxoplasma sp. these findings suggested that the immunological health of mature animals in this population mi ... | 2005 | 15661326 |
| evaluation of cardiac lesions and risk factors associated with myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy in southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis). | to describe cardiac lesions and identify risk factors associated with myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (dcm) in beach-cast southern sea otters. | 2005 | 15757130 |
| evidence to support horses as natural intermediate hosts for sarcocystis neurona. | opossums (didelphis spp.) are the definitive host for the protozoan parasite sarcocystis neurona, the causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). opossums shed sporocysts in feces that can be ingested by true intermediate hosts (cats, raccoons, skunks, armadillos and sea otters). horses acquire the parasite by ingestion of feed or water contaminated by opossum feces. however, horses have been classified as aberrant intermediate hosts because the terminal asexual sarcocyst stage ... | 2005 | 15970386 |
| comparison of helicobacter spp. genetic sequences in wild and captive seals, and gulls. | helicobacter species are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal system of humans and many animal taxa. investigations of natural infections are essential to elucidating their role within the host. the feces of fur seals arctocephalus pusillus doriferus and sea lions neophoca cinerea from 3 separate captive populations, as well as a wild colony from kangaroo island, australia, were examined for the occurrence of helicobacter spp. the feces from several wild silver gulls larus novahollandiae w ... | 2005 | 16060262 |
| transmission of toxoplasma: clues from the study of sea otters as sentinels of toxoplasma gondii flow into the marine environment. | toxoplasma gondii affects a wide variety of hosts including threatened southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) which serve as sentinels for the detection of the parasite's transmission into marine ecosystems. toxoplasmosis is a major cause of mortality and contributor to the slow rate of population recovery for southern sea otters in california. an updated seroprevalence analysis showed that 52% of 305 freshly dead, beachcast sea otters and 38% of 257 live sea otters sampled along the califo ... | 2005 | 16157341 |