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The New York Times: Scientists Begin Testing Bird Flu Vaccine in Seals

In response to the increasing threat of bird flu, marine mammal researchers are hoping to provide a life-saving, preventative vaccine for endangered Hawaiian monk seals. 

Learn how researchers at The Marine Mammal Center are studying the bird flu vaccine in elephant seals as a similar species, as well as our next steps to protect Hawaiian monk seals.

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Acute-Phase Responses in Healthy, Malnourished and Lungworm-Infected Juvenile Northern Elephant Seals

Acute-phase responses in healthy, malnourished, and Otostrongylus-infected juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris)
  • Lungworm

Abstract

Acute-phase proteins (APPs) are utilized to detect early inflammation in many domestic and nondomestic species, but variability exists between species and inflammatory diseases as to which APPs are most useful. Stranded juvenile northern elephant seals (NESs; Mirounga angustirostris) undergoing rehabilitation at the Marine Mammal Center experience high mortality rates due to severe arteritis caused by the lungworm, Otostrongylus circumlitis (OC), and there are currently no effective antemortem diagnostic tools for this disease. To characterize patterns of the acute-phase response in the NES, two APPs-serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP)-were measured, and serum protein electrophoresis was performed to measure albumin and globulin fractions in 81 serum samples from 58 NESs in four different health states: healthy, malnourished, preclinical for OC infection, or clinical for OC infection. Compared to healthy NESs (median, 11.2 mg/L), SAA concentrations were significantly increased in malnourished (33.9 mg/L), preclinical (247 mg/L), and clinical OC-infected NESs (328 mg/L) (P < 0.05). CRP concentrations were increased only in clinical OC-infected NESs (median, 53.9 mg/L) and were below detectable limits in the other three groups (<0.01 mg/L). These results show that SAA and CRP are positive APPs in NESs with OC infection, and that SAA may serve as the major APP for this species. Albumin : globulin ratios were significantly increased in malnourished NESs (median, 1.26) and decreased in clinical OC-infected NESs (0.53). As a result, albumin is a negative APP in the NES, similar to other mammalian species. APP monitoring can be helpful in detecting and monitoring inflammation in rehabilitating juvenile NESs.


Sheldon, J.D., Johnson, S.P., Hernandez, J.A., Cray, C., Stacy, N.I. 2017. Acute-phase responses in healthy, malnourished, and otostongylus-infected juvenile Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 48(3): 767-775.

lungworm

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