Some Metazoan Parasites from Marine Mammals Stranded in California

We used morphological and genetic identification to document metazoan parasites of cetaceans and pinnipeds from 28 carcasses salvaged in California between 1974 and 2002, including whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, and seals. Nematodes found included Anisakissimplex (s.l.), A. simplex (s.s.), Pseudoterranova decipiens (s.l.), Pseudoterranova sp., Contracaecum ogmorhini (s.l.), Contracaecum sp., Stenurus cf. minor, Pharurus cf. dalli, and Otostrongylus circumlitus. Cestodes found included Phyllobothrium delphini and Tetrabothrius sp. The acanthocephalan Bolbosoma capitatum, and the arthropod Halarachne miroungae, also were documented. Tetrabothrius sp. in the pygmy beaked whale (Mesoplodon peruvianus) and P delphini in the Eastern North Pacific long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis bairdii) constitute two new host records. Keywords: parasitology, helminths, cetaceans, pinnipeds, California
Metazoan parasites infesting marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions, include digeneans (flukes), cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (roundworms), acanthocephalans (spiny headed worms), amphipods, hexapods, and acari. These parasites [...]