Zoonotic disease and human interaction with marine mammals

Risks and information

Marine mammals can be infected and are carriers of bacterial, fungal and viral organisms that are known to be zoonotic pathogens (have the ability to transfer to a human). 

The risk of contracting one of these diseases differs depending on the interaction (e.g. fishing, harvesting, research, rescue staff, marine park workers). There have been reports of food-borne illness when harvesting an animal; however the risk of disease by scientists, rescue and trainers is not as well understood.

According to University of California (Davis School of Veterinarian Medicine); the following list are diseases that have been transferred to humans from contact with marine mammals:

·         Calicivirus (San Miguel Seal Lion virus) from northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus).

·         Blastomyces dermatitidis from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). 

·         Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae from a beached pilot whale (Globicephala melaena).

·         Influenza A virus from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

·         Leptospira spp. from California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) carcasses.

·         Mycobacterium bovis from a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).

·         Mycobacterium marinum from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

·         Sealpox virus from gray seals (Halichoerus grypus). 

Additionally, this is a list of potential zoonotic pathogens from marine mammals:

Bacterial	Viral	Fungal
Aeromonas Burkholderia (formerly Pseudomonas) Clostridium Edwardsiella Staphylococcus Streptococcus Vibrio	Influenza B Rabies	Aspergillus Candida Coccidioides Histoplasma

To find out more about each of these diseases you can click here    and  here   and here .

You may also go to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) by clicking here and searching each disease. 

References:

UC Dvis Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/MMZ/defaultnew.cfm

 

image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rescuemmc.jpg

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