Staphylococcal Pyelonephritis and Cystitis in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus Californianus)

An adult, female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) was stranded in Laguna Beach, California (33 32’43.96”N x 117 o 47’51.10”W) on January 13, 2007. Clinical signs included marked lethargy, head-bobbing and ‘wet-dog shaking’. A presumptive diagnosis of Domoic Acid intoxication was made and supportive therapy including anti-seizure treatment was instituted. About thirty hours later, seizure activity had abated but the animal continued to deteriorate to a semicomatose state and euthanasia was elected. Postmortem examination revealed severe, bilateral pyelonephitis and cystitis from which a pure culture of Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. With the exception of Leptospira sp interstitial nephritis, bacterial urinary tract infections are very rare in marine mammals. To the author’s knowledge this is the first report of Staphylococcus aureus pyleonephritis and cystitis in the California sea lion. [JMATE. 2008;1(1):12-14]