Marine Mammal Parasite of the Month- November 2020

Here at NMLC, parasites are diagnosed by examining the seal’s feces. We use a fecal float test and a statspin to isolate the parasite ova and identify the species. These ova belong to a parasite that is found in the intestines of pinnipeds. While the ova are only 50-80 µm by 30-50 µm, the adult parasites can reach 4-10m in length. These ova are usually oval or round shaped and have a small knob on one end. What parasite do these ova belong to and how do they affect pinnipeds?

Posted by Meaghan K.

Meaghan is a fall intern who is majoring in Marine and Freshwater Biology at Colgate University.