California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) and Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) Bites and Contact Abrasions in Open-Water Swimmers: A Series of 11 Cases.
OBJECTIVE
To review cases of bites and contact abrasions in open-water swimmers from California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii).


METHODS
Open-water swimmers from a San Francisco swimming club were questioned about encounters with pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) that resulted in bites or contact abrasions. When possible, wounds were documented with photographs. Medical follow-up and treatment complications were also reviewed.


RESULTS
From October 2011 to December 2014, 11 swimmers reported bites by a sea lion (n = 1), harbor seal (n = 7), or unidentified pinniped (n = 3). Ten of the encounters occurred in San Francisco Bay; 1 occurred in the Eld Inlet, in Puget Sound, near Olympia, WA. None of the swimmers were wearing wetsuits. All bites involved the lower extremities; skin was broken in 4 of 11 bites and antibiotics were prescribed in 3 cases. One swimmer, who was bitten by a harbor seal, also had claw scratches. A treatment failure occurred with amoxicillin/clavulanate in another swimmer who was bitten by an unidentified pinniped; the wound healed subsequently with doxycycline, suggesting an infection with Mycoplasma spp. There were no long-lasting consequences from any of the bites. The majority of cases occurred at low tide, and bumping of the swimmer by the animal before or after a bite was common, but no clear tide or attack pattern was identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Bites and contact abrasions from sea lions and harbor seals are reported infrequently in open-water swimmers and typically involve the lower extremities. Because of the risk of Mycoplasma infection, treatment with a tetracycline is recommended in pinniped bites with signs of infection or serious trauma. Attempting to touch or pet sea lions or seals is inadvisable and prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Swimmers should leave the water as soon as possible after a bite or encounter.
Department of Medicine, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, and; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA (Dr Nuckton). Electronic address: nuckton@sutterhealth.org.
Thomas J
TJ
Nuckton
Department of Veterinary Science, The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA (Dr Simeone).
Claire A
CA
Simeone
Department of Medicine, Sutter Eden Medical Center, Castro Valley, CA (Drs Nuckton and Phelps).
Roger T
RT
Phelps
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D046049:Phoca; D011998:Recreation; D046070:Sea Lions; D013550:Swimming; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013752:Tetracycline
California sea lions; animal bites; harbor seals; marine mammals; pinnipedia; swimming