All Entries in the "Under the Microscope" Category
Parasites are for lovers
Our friends at the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program brought some parasites from cases of stranded sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises, and seals from Virginia to the National Stranding Conference. These samples were examined at the National Marine Life Center by Dr. Williams who prepared case studies of these parasites that ranged from incidental findings like [...]
Where in the world: Dr. Rogers Travels: Provincetown Town, Cape Cod
Dr. Williams traveled to the tip of Cape Cod to the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies last week to talk on One Health, the role of the National Marine Life Center and the implications for improving the health of stranded marine animals, the environment, and human health as well. The talk was sponsored by the [...]
Where in the World: Shepherdstown, WV
Dr. Williams traveled to the National Marine Animal Stranding Conference in West Virgina along with Kathy, Brian, and over 200 national and international experts involved in marine animal stranding response. Dr. Williams taught a laboratory session on parasites in marine animals, presenting findings of middle ear disease in seals, and introduced three posters: common parasites [...]
Whale of Good Time
…at least for the parasites, thanks to Suzanne Thurman for sending along samples of the acanthocephalan parasite Bolbosoma turbinella from a Sei Whale stranded which stranded Delaware. This parasite is known from several baleen whales (the big ones), including the humpback, blue (the largest whale), and northern right whale (one of the most endangered whales). [...]
Where in the World: Dr Rogers Travels: Boston
Drs Williams and Dunnigan participated in a NOAA Fisheries sea turtle serious injury workshop where they presented examples of sea turtle / fishery interactions and lead discussions on the significance of certain types of injuries among a panel of sea turtle veterinary experts, sea turtle biologists, and government officials. The meeting was held in the [...]
Virtural (Path) Rounds
Dr. Williams participated in the first Marine Mammal Pathology Virtual Rounds sponsored by NOAA today. Pathology cases were submitted from the stranding network, and reports were made available for review before the Rounds. By uploading digitized histopathology slides, participants were able to review the case and the pathology on-line. These are not the perfect pictures [...]
Where in the World: Dr. Rogers Travels: Martha’s Vineyard
A sea turtle and marine mammal stranding training session hosted by the New England Aquarium on Martha’s Vineyard was attended by Drs. Williams and Dunnigan. This was a local meeting for our two vineyard vets who have been responsible for the primary stranding response for over one hundred stranded animals on the Vineyard since 1997. [...]
Where in the World: Dr. Rogers Travels: Woods Hole
US Fish and Wildlife and biologists from the state of Florida came to the Northeast Region to hold a one-day training course in Woods Hole on Manatee Strandings. Manatees sightings and strandings are becoming more common in this region, which naturally indicates that the manatee population is increasing, global warming is occurring faster then expected, [...]
Where in the World: Dr. Rogers Travels: Florida
Dr. Williams was an invited speaker at the South East Region Stranding Conference were he presented a talk on Cetacean Euthanasia, a difficult topic but one that veterinarians, stranding personal, rehabilitators, and the general public must face when a stranded dolphin or whale is suffering. The meeting was held in Florida and well attended. It [...]
In Search of a New Host
As part of our on-going studies of the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and our quest to understand the events that surround the cold-stun phenomenon that results with the stranding and death of tens to hundreds of turtles each year on Cape Cod we are studing the parasites collected from Kemp’s Ridley turtles that have [...]
Pathology and Parasitology
As part of our on-going studies of the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and our quest to understand the events that surround the cold-stun phenomenon that results with the stranding and death of tens to hundreds of turtles each year on Cape Cod, we are pleased to announce the publication of paper that describes the [...]
Gulf of Maine Seals: populations, problems, and priorities
Kathy and Rogers attended the Gulf of Maine Seals conference sponsored by the WHOI Marine Mammal Center. Dr. Williams presented findings on middle ear disease in seals from the Gulf of Maine as a potential indicator of environmental degradation and a process that can serve as a model for a common human disease. Rogers also [...]
New Parasite from Kemp’s Ridley
The loss of Caveman, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle that died of sepsis and pneumonia following a cold-stun event last fall, was difficult for the entire staff, but we are continuing to learn about Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and issues that effect their health and natural history. During the necropsy (animal autopsy) we found an [...]
Under the Microscope Introduction
In this section, “Under the Microscope,” we present our scientific endeavors, particularly the study of parasites and parasitic diseases found in stranded animals. For more information, contact Dr. Sea Rogers Williams, Science Director and Associate Veterinarian.
