Viral and bacterial serology of six free-ranging bearded seals Erignathus barbatus.
Serum or heparinized plasma samples were obtained from 3 male (2 adult and 1 weaned calf) and 3 adult female free-ranging bearded seals Erignathus barbatus in May of 1994, 1995, or 1996. Blood samples were obtained from animals taken in subsistence hunts near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska and screened for antibodies to a suite of bacteria and viruses potentially pathogenic for pinnipeds and/or humans. No samples had detectable antibodies to Brucella spp., Phocine distemper virus, influenza A virus or caliciviruses (San Miguel sea lion virus strains 1, 2, and 4 to 13, vesicular exanthema of swine serotypes A48, B51, C52, D53, E54, F55, G55, H54, 155, J56, K54, 1934B, and Tillamook and Walrus calicivirus). One seal had a low titer of 100 to Leptospira interrogans serovar
Calle
Paul P
PP
Global Health Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460-1099, USA. pcalle@wcs.org
Seagars
Dana J
DJ
McClave
Catherine
C
Senne
Dennis
D
House
Carol
C
House
James A
JA
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000097:blood*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral