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Observations in 2001 on hookworms (Uncinaria spp.) in otariid pinnipeds

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Abstract

Uncinaria spp. were recovered from the milk of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) collected from the: (1) teats of a cow just after parturition (one parasitic third-stage larva, L3), (2) stomach of her nursing pup (two L3), and (3) stomach of a dead pup about 2 days old (one L3, one headless, probably L3, and four L4) on San Miguel Island, California in May 2001. This, in addition to earlier research, indicates transmammary transmission of hookworms in this host. Uncinaria spp. were found in dead northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in the: (1) intestines of 2 of 75 pups (either one or two adult specimens in each infected pup) and (2) ventral abdominal blubber of 3 of 78 subadult males (one to seven L3 in each infected seal) on St. Paul Island (SPI), Alaska in July and August 2001. These findings verify the low current prevalence of Uncinaria spp. in fur seals on SPI. Rectal fecal samples taken from 50 live Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups, about 1 month old, on Rogue Reef in Curry County, Oregon in July 2001, were all negative for the eggs of Uncinaria spp. The apparent zero infection rate in these pups is possibly because the rocky terrain of this rookery is not suitable for hookworm transmission.

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Acknowledgements

This research (paper no. 02-14-46) is published with the approval of the director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. It was conducted under Marine Mammal Protection Act Permit Nos. 782-1446, 782-1455, and 782-1532, issued to the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, Wash.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA

    E. T. Lyons & S. C. Tolliver

  2. National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Bldg. 4, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115-0070, USA

    R. L. DeLong & S. R. Melin

  3. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601, USA

    T. R. Spraker

Authors
  1. E. T. Lyons
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  2. R. L. DeLong
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  3. T. R. Spraker
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  4. S. R. Melin
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  5. S. C. Tolliver
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Correspondence to E. T. Lyons.

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Lyons, E.T., DeLong, R.L., Spraker, T.R. et al. Observations in 2001 on hookworms (Uncinaria spp.) in otariid pinnipeds. Parasitol Res 89, 503–505 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-002-0784-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-002-0784-3

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