Vasculitis and Thrombosis due to the Sea Lion Lungworm in a Guadalupe Fur Seal
- Lungworm
- Parasites
- Pathology
Abstract
A free-ranging, male, yearling Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi) died due to multifocal verminous vasculitis with thrombosis and several embolic infarcts in liver, kidney, and brain. Nematodes extracted from lung blood vessels were identified as Parafilaroides decorus, a parasite normally found in alveoli of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
Seguel, M., Nadler, S. Field, C, Duignan, P. 2018. Vasculitis and Thrombosis due to the Sea Lion Lungworm, Parafilaroides decorus, in a Guadalupe Fur Seal (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi). Journal of Wildlife Disease 54(3):638-641.
Meet The Experts
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cara-field.jpg","alt":"Cara Field","title":"Cara Field","text":"Senior Director, Conservation Medicine","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/cara-field","link_text":"Read Bio"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/PD_Gray whale Pacifica_IMG_0552-0-0-1270-992-1775170630.jpeg","alt":"Padraig Duignan","title":"P\u00e1draig Duignan","text":"Senior Director, Research Pathology","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/padraig-duignan","link_text":"Read Bio"}
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-1.jpg","alt":"California sea lion eating a fish","title":"New Technique for Diagnosing Lung Parasite Infections in Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/new-technique-for-diagnosing-lung-parasite-infections-in-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/cropped-images\/es-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3-2-1214-3454-3512-1600891002.jpg","alt":"northern elephant seal","title":"Diagnostic Tests for Lungworm-Infected Northern Elephant Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/diagnostic-tests-for-lungworm-infected-northern-elephant-seals","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whale-sea-lions-photo-c-bill-hunnewell-190-2-2774-2167-1659123832.jpg","alt":"humpback whales and California sea lions feeding","title":"Aquatic Mammals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/aquatic-mammals","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/2021\/cropped-images\/es-mizuna-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-5-70-2542-1985-1626807943.jpeg","alt":"northern elephant seal Mizuna","title":"Acute-Phase Responses in Healthy, Malnourished and Lungworm-Infected Juvenile Northern Elephant Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/acute-phase-responses-in-healthy-malnourished-and-lungworm-infected-juvenile-northern-elephant-seals","label":"Research Paper"}
Research Paper
Acute-Phase Responses in Healthy, Malnourished and Lungworm-Infected Juvenile Northern Elephant Seals
Read MoreRecent News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2013\/cropped-images\/hs-bogey-by-ingrid-overgard-c-the-marine-mammal-center-371-0-2712-2118-1607385758.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Bogey","title":"Top Holiday Gifts for Ocean Lovers","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/top-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2026-11-02 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Volunteers\/cslpangorescuephoto-c-niko-panagopoulos-35.jpg","alt":"California sea lion rescue","title":"The Marine Mammal Center Responds to Largest Domoic Acid Outbreak in Its History","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-marine-mammal-center-responds-to-largest-domoic-acid-outbreak-in-its-history","label":"News Update","date":"2026-10-28 02:00:00"}
News Update
The Marine Mammal Center Responds to Largest Domoic Acid Outbreak in Its History
October 28, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/humpback-whale-spout-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center.jpg","alt":"Humpback whale spout","title":"A Collaboration to Protect Whales and Support California\u2019s Dungeness Crab Fishery","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/collaboration-to-protect-whales-and-support-californias-dungeness-crab-fishery","label":"Press Release","date":"2026-10-22 02:00:00"}
Press Release
A Collaboration to Protect Whales and Support California’s Dungeness Crab Fishery
October 22, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Response\/cropped-images\/c-common-dolphin93026cuesta-inlet-in-morro-bayphoto-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-mmhsrp-24359-0-399-1270-992-1790883642.jpg","alt":"Stranded dolphin response","title":"Three Common Dolphins Freed from Mudflats in Morro Bay","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/three-common-dolphins-freed-from-mudflats-in-morro-bay","label":"News Update","date":"2026-10-02 02:00:00"}
