EVALUATION OF THE OPHTHALMIC DISEASE AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC EFFECTS DUE TO THE OCULAR TREMATODE PHILOPHTHALMUS ZALOPHI ON JUVENILE GALAPAGOS SEA LIONS ( ZALOPHUS WOLLEBAEKI)

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine : Official Publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Brianne E PhillipsGregory A Lewbart

Abstract

The Galapagos sea lion ( Zalophus wollebaeki) is an otariid species endemic to the Galapagos archipelago and is currently listed as endangered. The ocular trematode Philophthalmus zalophi was recently reported to affect the survival of juvenile Galapagos sea lions on Santa Cruz Island, resulting in marked ophthalmic changes. This study evaluated the ophthalmic disease and histopathologic effects of P. zalophi on juvenile Galapagos sea lions in the largest rookery located on San Cristóbal Island. Twenty juvenile Galapagos sea lions (10 male and 10 female) were evaluated among five sites in the rookery El Malecón. Ophthalmic examination, including fluorescein staining and evaluation of the adnexa, cornea, and sclera, were performed on each eye. The presence, number, and location of ocular parasites were determined, and parasites were collected for identification. Conjunctival biopsy was performed on 11 animals: 2 that lacked parasites and gross lesions and 9 with both parasites and gross lesions. All parasites collected were confirmed as P. zalophi and identified in 80% (16/20) of the study animals and 70% (28/40) of the examined eyes. Philophthalmus zalophi was most frequently found attached to the nictitating membrane but also ...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1992·Journal of Comparative Pathology·H A Schoon, D Schoon
Jul 21, 2009·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Elsa Coria-GalindoLuis Padilla-Noriega
Aug 17, 2010·Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·Carmen M H ColitzKimberly Terrell
Sep 25, 2010·Veterinary Ophthalmology·Carmen M H ColitzJens Christian Rudnick
Mar 21, 2012·Veterinary Ophthalmology·Melanie L ChurchVasyl V Tkach
Jun 29, 2013·Parasitology International·Hudson Alves Pinto, Alan Lane de Melo
Sep 10, 2015·Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine : Official Publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians·Douglas W EssonBrent S Stewart

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BETA
biopsies
biopsy

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JMP Pro

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