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Intestinal parasites in galapagos sea lions (zalophus wollebaeki) sivertsen, 1953 on San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

Abstract:

Knowledge regarding endoparasites of Galapagos sea lions, Zalophus wollebaeki, is limited to 1 report. Herein, we examined feces extracted from the lower gastrointestinal tract of 15 Galapagos sea lions plus 14 fecal mounds voided by Galapagos sea lions at 4 locations on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos in May and June of 2016. With the use of standard fecal flotation and sedimentation techniques, lungworm larvae suggestive of Parafilaroides and Otostrongylus sp., eggs of pseudophyllidea cestodes and anisakid nematodes, and coccidian oocysts were collected from study samples. This is the first report of potential lungworm larvae, anisakids, pseudophyllidean cestodes, and coccidian parasites in Galapagos sea lions and demonstrates the importance of fecal survey techniques in describing patterns of parasitism in endangered or protected host populations.