Comparative Health Assessments of Alaskan Ice Seals

Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Caroline E C GoertzPeter L Boveng

Abstract

Bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Pusa hispida), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals rely on seasonal sea-ice in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Many aspects of the biology and physiology of these seals are poorly known, and species-typical health parameters are not available for all species. Such information has proven difficult to obtain due to the challenges of studying Arctic seals in the wild and their minimal historic representation in aquaria. Here, we combine diagnostic information gathered between 2000 and 2017 from free-ranging seals, seals in short-term rehabilitation, and seals living in long-term human care to evaluate and compare key health parameters. For individuals in apparent good health, hematology, and blood chemistry values are reported by the source group for 10 bearded, 13 ringed, 73 spotted, and 81 ribbon seals from Alaskan waters. For a smaller set of individuals handled during veterinary or necropsy procedures, the presence of parasites and pathogens is described, as well as exposure to a variety of infectious diseases known to affect marine mammals and/or humans, with positive titers observed for Brucella, Leptospira, avian influenza, herpesvirus PhHV-1, and morbillivi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 6, 2020·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Heather S WaldenLori Quakenbush
Feb 14, 2021·Microorganisms·Daniela NumbergerPeter Valentin-Weigand
Aug 28, 2021·Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica·Morten TrylandStein Istre Thoresen

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
sedation
PCR
ELISA
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
blood draws

Software Mentioned

Prism
GraphPad

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