Abstract
A young wild harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) was found stranded on the North Sea coast at Kok- sijde (Belgium)and was admitted to a rehabilitation center where it died one day later. Full ne- cropsy with histopathology was performed. Gross examination revealed severe diffuse hemorr- hagic and emphysematous pneumonia with the presence of 6-10 cm-large nematodes. The nema- todes were found in the trachea, large bronchi, right heart and pulmonary arteries, and subsequently identified as Otostrongylus circumlitus. Histologic examination demonstrated severe eosinophilic to granulomatous bronchointerstitial pneumonia with intralesional nematodes. It was concluded that the seal died of severe verminous pneumonia. In this case report, the importance of lungworm infection, which is a common and critical disease in young seals, is highlighted.
Highlights
Otostrongylus circumlitus is a large parasitic metastrongyloid nematode of the Crenosomatidae family
The distribution of O. circumlitus is holartic and circumpolar, mainly restricted to the Northern hemisphere. It can infect a variety of pinnipeds, with harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) functioning as main primary hosts (Bergeron et al, 1997; Gulland et al, 1997; Elson-Riggins et al, 2001; Measures, 2001; Leidenberger and Boström, 2009; Colegrove et al, 2018)
Based on the morphologic examination, the adult nematodes found in the heart, lungs and trachea were identified as Otostrongylus circumlitus by the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (Figure 3A)
Summary
Otostrongylus circumlitus is a large parasitic metastrongyloid nematode of the Crenosomatidae family. The distribution of O. circumlitus is holartic and circumpolar, mainly restricted to the Northern hemisphere It can infect a variety of pinnipeds, with harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) functioning as main primary hosts (Bergeron et al, 1997; Gulland et al, 1997; Elson-Riggins et al, 2001; Measures, 2001; Leidenberger and Boström, 2009; Colegrove et al, 2018). The adult nematodes mainly reside in the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and are only occasionally observed in the right heart and pulmonary arteries (Gulland et al, 1997; ElsonRiggins et al, 2001; Measures, 2001; Leidenberger and Boström, 2009) They are typically reversely oriented relative to their host, with their anterior ends embedded into lung parenchyma and their posterior ends extending towards the upper airways (Gosselin et al, 1998). Additional treatment options for excessive mucus, secondary bacterial infection, shock and/or dehydration should be considered (Moesker, 1987, Vercruysse et al, 2003)
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