Disease & Pathology

Disease & Pathology

There are numerous diseases and pathogens that are commonly found in sea otters.  Here you will find high quality images of many of these diseases including gross and histological images of the most common zoonotic pathogens. 

Subcategories

Common Pathologies

Common Pathologies

Interested in problems often found in the digestive system or nervous system?  This category is a rich resource for system-specific pathologies.

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Recognizing when you may have encountered a zoonotic disease is important for your own safety and ensures that proper samples are collected and proper cleaning and disposal procedures are followed.

Many pathogens will opportunistically infect sea otters including a number of different parasites.  Here you will see how these parasites look at necropsy as well as microscopically!

What are some of the common forms of trauma that are seen in sea otters?  Shark bites, boat strike, fight trauma, or mating trauma are the most common.  See what these wounds may look like at necropsy.

In what ways do humans impact otters directly?  Here you will find information about boat strike injuries, common wounds associated with fishery interactions, and more!