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. 2018 Oct 26:569–592. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-805306-5.00023-7

Table 23.1.

Miscellaneous Toxic and Nutritional Conditions of Pinnipeds

Cause Lesions Species Affected
Thiamine deficiencya Polioencephalomalcia especially in the cerebellum Harp and harbor seals
Vitamin E deficiencyb myopathy, steatitis California sea lion
Scrombroid poisoningb Nonspecific respiratory tract congestion and edema, mucus membrane irritation Multiple
Lead toxicosisc Erythrophagocytosis and hemosiderosis in lymph nodes and liver, myocardial necrosis, cerebral, and intramyelinic edema Harbor seal
Organochlorinesd, e Claw deformities, uterine stenosis, still birth, thyroid abnormalities, skull bone lesions, adrenal hyperplasia Gray seals, harbor seals, ringed seals
Oil/PAHsd fouling of pelage, impaired thermoregulation, epidermal acanthosis and hyperkeratosis, intramyelinic edema, neuronal necrosis, axonal swelling, conjunctivitis, keratitis Harbor seals, fur seals, ringed seals
a

Wohlsein, P., Peters, M., Geburek, F., Seeliger, F., Böer, M., 2003. Polioencephalomalacia in captive harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Transbound. Emerg. Dis. 50(3), 145–150.

b

Worthy, G.A., 2001. Nutrition and energetics. In: Dierauf, L and Gulland, F.M.D. (eds). CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 791–817.

c

Zabka, T.S., Haulena, M., Puschner, B., Gulland, F.M., Conrad, P.A., Lowenstine, L.J., 2006. Acute lead toxicosis in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) consequent to ingestion of a lead fishing sinker. J. Wildl. Dis. 42(3), 651–657.

d

O'Hara, T.M. Hart, L. 2018. Environmental Toxicology. In: Gulland, F.M.D., Dierauf, L.A., Whitman, K.L. (eds.). CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 285-306.

e

Bergman, A., Olsson, M., 1985. Pathology of baltic grey seal and ringed seal females with special reference to adrenocortical hyperplasia: is environmental pollution the cause of a widely distributed disease syndrome. Finn. Game Res. 44, 47–62.