Occurrence of Ocular Disorders in California Sea Lions Under Human Care: Comparing Freshwater and Saltwater Housing Conditions.

ABSTRACT: California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are susceptible to various ocular diseases, with some literature suggesting a heightened risk for those kept in freshwater pools as opposed to saltwater. Given the potential implications of housing conditions on animal health, we wanted to analyze the ocular health of two distinct groups of California sea lions kept at Nuremberg Zoo, one housed in freshwater and the other in saltwater. Data extracted from the animals' medical records during a ten-year period were used to compare the incidence of eye conditions and other medical conditions observed. The results revealed no significant difference in the overall occurrence of eye diseases between the two environments. However, a distinct seasonal pattern was noted: California sea lions kept

SUBMITTER: Brehm I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11899396 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature