Pathology and epidemiology of nasopulmonary acariasis (Halarachne sp.) in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis).

ABSTRACT: Halarachne sp. nasal mites infest harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in California, but little is known about the pathophysiology of these infestations, or risk factors for exposure. To investigate these questions, a retrospective case-control study was performed using necropsy data from 70 mite-infested sea otters, and 144 non-infested controls. Case records for sea otters examined by pathologists from February 1999 through May 2015 were examined to assess risk factors for infestation, and lesions associated with nasopulmonary acariasis. Animals with a history of captive care within 10 days of death or carcass recovery were 3.2 times more likely to be infested with nasopulmonary mites than those with no history of recent reha

SUBMITTER: Shockling Dent CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6463542 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature