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Urogenital carcinoma is common in wild California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus) along the west coast of the US. From 1979 to 1994, this cancer was observed in 18% (66/370) of necropsied subadult and adult sea lions at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. A retrospective review of records from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015 was performed to characterize prevalence and characteristics of cancer over this decade. Fourteen percent (263/1917) of necropsied sea lions had cancer, of which 90% (237/263) were urogenital carcinoma. The prevalence of urogenital carcinoma was significantly higher in adults compared to juveniles and subadults. Advanced-stage disease with metastases was identified histologically in 78% (182/232) of cases and was the cause of death in 95% (172/182) of these cases. Metastases were most common in lung and lymph nodes, and hydronephrosis, secondary to ureter obstruction by metastases, was identified in 62% (114/185) of animals with advanced disease. No significant temporal change in prevalence was detected over the decade, and this highly aggressive, fatal cancer remains common in stranded California sea lions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) on dolphins vary from causing epidemics to subclinical infections. The former have been documented in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea but not in the North Pacific Ocean, and the reasons for this are unknown. To explore the distribution of this virus in areas that have not experienced epidemics, we reviewed evidence for morbilliviral infection in odontocetes stranded along the California coast, US from 2000-15. Nine of 212 animals examined histologically had lesions compatible with morbilliviral infection, and 11 were tested for CeMV via reverse transcriptase-PCR. One striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba) was PCR positive, and the sequenced product was most closely related to sequences in two strains found in cetaceans in Hawaii. This study suggests that CeMV may be a cause of morbidity and a rare contributor to mortality in cetaceans stranding along the California coast. Additional work is needed to understand CeMV distribution and host species susceptibility in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study which investigates the prevalence of the parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii among the sea lion population in the state of California. Topics discussed include the use of the archived records and samples from The Marine Mammal Center to obtain the relevant data, the use of the weighted proportion statistical tool to analyze the acquired data, and a detailed analysis of the results.

The article presents a case study which investigates the proliferation of the infectious fungus species which includes the Coccidioides and Blastomyces among the marine mammal population in North America. Topics discussed include the use of data from the case files of the various marine research institutes in California including The Marine Mammal Center, the use of established criteria in assessing the collected data, and a detailed analysis of the results.

The article presents a case study on the feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus in black-footed cat following the administration of modified live virus vaccine (MLV). Topics discussed include the clinical signs observed in the kittens including nasal discharge, tachypnea, and anorexia, the method for the evaluation of tissues are developed, and the evidences of the morbidity effect of MLV and on the upper respiratory infection of the kittens.

The article provides information on a study which investigated the occurrence of acute renal failure and the mortality from leptospirosis in northern elephant seals in rehabilitation in the central California coast in 2011. Topics covered include the characteristic histologic lesions that were noted in the six animals examined, findings of the immunohistochemistry, bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed and the results of the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis conducted.

The article presents a case study of a nine-year-old, female Schmidt's red-tailed guenon (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti) presented with an acute swelling with an abscess over the right hip. A consolidated right caudal lung lobe associated with an endobronchial mass has been revealed through thoracic radiographs and computed tomography. It was found that long-term administration of oral fluconazole was effective in the treatment of the multifocal Cryptococcus neoformans neoformans infection.

The article discusses a study on an adult female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) that was found in central California with a small glossal polypoid mass on gross necropsy. According to the authors, the mass was consistent with a fibropapilloma and intranuclear inclusions were located in the endothelial cells that lined the small arterioles within the mass. Sequence analysis identified the virus as a new strain of polyomavirus, tentatively named California sea lion polyomavirus 1.