Coccidia (Eimeria and Isospora) of Marine Mammals
(Cetacea, Pinnepeds, Sirenia)

Donald W. Duszynski1, Lee Couch1, and Steve J. Upton2
1Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
2Division of Biology, Kansas State University

Supported by NSF-PEET DEB 9521687

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Updated: 11 September 2001
Comments: eimeria@unm.edu (Duszynski) or coccidia@ksu.edu (Upton)


ORDER: Cetacea

  1. Isospora sp. of Kuttin and Kaller, 1992
    1. Synonym: Cystoisospora israeli Kuttin and Kaller, 1992
    2. Host: Arctocephalus pusillus (South African fur seal)
    3. Reference: Kuttin and Kaller 1992
    4. Remarks: The photographs clearly reveal the coccidian to represent a member of the genus Isospora, typical in appearence to isosporans known to infect carnivores. Diarrhea and weight loss were associated with passage of the oocysts

  2. Unknown coccidian of Kuttin and Kaller, 1996
    1. Synonym: Cystoisospora delphini Kuttin and Kaller, 1996
    2. Host: Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenose dolphin)
    3. Reference: Kuttin and Kaller 1996
    4. Remarks: This may or may not represent a coccidian of the dolphin. Whether it represents a member of the genus Cystoisospora, Isospora, Caryospora, or something else is also not known. Both monosporic and bisporic oocysts were noted in the feces, no endogenous stages were reported, and it may represent a pseudoparasite passing through the intestine


ORDER: Pinnepeda

  1. Eimeria arctowski Drozdz, 1987
    1. Host: Leptonychotes weddelli (Weddell seal - Phocidae)
    2. Reference: Drozdz 1987
    3. Remarks: This coccidian may represent Eimeria weddelli, but simply with the outer wall stripped away. It is also possible that these are oocysts originating from a fish or bird

  2. Eimeria phocae Hsu, Melby, and Altman, 1974
    1. Host: Phoca vitulina concolor (Harbor seal - Phocidae)
    2. References: Hsu et al. 1974a, 1974b; McClelland 1980; Munro and Synge 1991
    3. Remarks: There is no doubt that this represents a true parasite of seals

  3. Eimeria (?) sp. 1 of Drozdz, 1987
    1. Host: Lobodon carcinophagus (Crabeater seal - Phocidae)
    2. Reference: Drozdz 1987
    3. Remarks: Apparently only unsporulated oocysts were noted. This coccidian may represent a pseudoparasite

  4. Eimeria (?) sp. 2 of Drozdz, 1987
    1. Host: Leptonychotes weddelli (Weddell seal - Phocidae)
    2. Reference: Drozdz 1987
    3. Remarks: Apparently only unsporulated oocysts were noted. This coccidian may represent a pseudoparasite

  5. Eimeria (?) sp. 3 of Drozdz, 1987
    1. Host: Leptonychotes weddelli (Weddell seal - Phocidae)
    2. Reference: Drozdz 1987
    3. Remarks: Apparently only unsporulated oocysts were noted. This coccidian may represent a pseudoparasite

  6. Eimeria weddelli Drozdz, 1987
    1. Host: Leptonychotes weddelli (Weddell seal - Phocidae)
    2. Reference: Drozdz 1987
    3. Remarks: This coccidian may be synonymous with Eimeria arctowski. It is also possible that these are oocysts of fish or bird origin

  7. Isospora mirungae Drozdz, 1987
    1. Host: Mirounga leonina (Southern elephant seal - Phocidae)
    2. Reference: Drozdz 1987
    3. Remarks: This coccidian may represent oocysts derived from a fish or bird


ORDER: Sirenia

  1. Eimeria manatus Upton, Odell, Bossart, and Walsh, 1989
    1. Host: Trichechus manatus latirostris (West India or Florida manatee - Trichechidae)
    2. Reference: Upton et al. 1989

  2. Eimeria nodulosa Upton, Odell, Bossart, and Walsh, 1989
    1. Host: Trichechus manatus latirostris (West India or Florida manatee - Trichechidae)
    2. Reference: Upton et al. 1989

  3. Eimeria trichechi Lainson, Raiff, Best, and Shaw, 1983
    1. Host: Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian manatee - Trichechidae)
    2. Reference: Lainson et al. 1983

References

Hsu. C.-K., Melby, E.C., and Altman, N.H. 1974. Eimeria phocae sp. n. from the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor). Journal of Parasitology 60: 399-402.

Hsu, C.-K., Melby, E.C., Altan, N.H., and Burek, J.D. 1974. Coccidiosis in harbor seals. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 164: 700-701.

Drozda, J. 1987. Oocysts of six new Coccidomorpha species from pinnipeds of King George Island (South Shetlands, Antarctic). Acta Protozoologica 26: 263-266.

Kuttin, E.S. and Kaller, A. 1992. Cystoisospora israeli n. sp. causing enteritis in a South African fur seal. Aquatic Mammals 18: 79-81.

Kuttin, E.S. and Kaller, A. 1996. Cystoisospora delphini n. sp. enteritis in a bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals 22: 57-60.

Lainson, R., Raiff, R.D., Best, R.C., and Shaw, J.J. 1983. Eimeria trichechi n. sp. from the Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunquis (Mammalia: Sirenia). Systematic Parasitology 5: 287-289.

McClelland, G. 1980. Phocanema decipiens: Pathology in Seals. Experimental Parasitology 49: 405-419.

Munro, R. and Synge, B. 1991. Coccidiosis in seals. The Veterinary Record 129: 179-180.

Upton, S.J., Odell, D.K., Bossart, G.D., and Walsh, M.T. 1989. Description of the oocysts of two new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Floridia manatee, Trichechus manatus (Sirenia: Trichechidae). Journal of Protozoology 36: 87-90.