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1 April 2014 Locally Acquired Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska, USA
Kathy A. Burek-Huntington, Verena Gill, Daniel S. Bradway
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Histoplasmosis of local origin has not been reported in humans or wildlife in Alaska, and the disease has never been reported in a free-ranging marine mammal. In 2005 a northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) was found on Kodiak Island, Alaska, at 57° latitude north, far outside the known distribution of Histoplasma capsulatum. The animal died of disseminated histoplasmosis. Microorganisms consistent with Histoplasma sp. were observed on histopathology, and H. capsulatum was identified by PCR and sequencing. We suggest migratory seabirds or aerosol transmission through prevailing winds may have resulted in transmission to the sea otter.

Wildlife Disease Association 2014
Kathy A. Burek-Huntington, Verena Gill, and Daniel S. Bradway "Locally Acquired Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska, USA," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 50(2), 389-392, (1 April 2014). https://doi.org/10.7589/2013-11-288
Received: 6 May 2011; Accepted: 1 November 2013; Published: 1 April 2014
KEYWORDS
Alaska
Enhydra lutris
Histoplasma capsulatum
northern sea otter
seabirds
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