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Marine Mammal Health Scientific Research

Marine mammals are health sentinels, shining a light on the health of the ocean and ourselves. From developing novel therapies to treat an individual animal, to researching how marine mammal health trends evolve over time, Claire Simeone's work focuses on growing our understanding of marine mammal health. 

Explore Claire's marine mammal research below and click to read select publications. 

Selected Research

New Transplant Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Epilepsy After Successful Use in a Sea Lion

New Transplant Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Epilepsy After Successful Use in a Sea Lion

New Transplant Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Epilepsy After Successful Use in a Sea Lion

Cronutt the California sea lion received a xenotransplantation of cells to reverse his epilepsy.

Harmful algal blooms can lead to brain damage and epilepsy. This case report describes the first interneuron transplant in a California sea lion. 

These preliminary results suggest the sea lion's quality of life has improved, and this therapy holds tremendous potential for benefit. 


Read Article

Toxic Algae May Impact the Brains of Non-Releasable Sea Lions

New Transplant Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Epilepsy After Successful Use in a Sea Lion

New Transplant Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Epilepsy After Successful Use in a Sea Lion

Harmful algae pictured here produce the biotoxin domoic acid.

Changes in our environment and human impacts are resulting in harmful algal blooms increasing in size and frequency. This study reviewed medical records for 171 non-releasable California sea lions, and found that neurologic disease is common, particularly in neonates. 

More research is needed to understand the role exposure to biotoxins early in life may play throughout the life of an animal. 


Read Article

Treating Eye Infections In Dolphins with Stem Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma

New Transplant Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Epilepsy After Successful Use in a Sea Lion

Treating Eye Infections In Dolphins with Stem Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma

Dolphin with a fungal eye infection with points outlined for local anesthetic blocks.

Fungal infections of the cornea can rapidly progress to vision loss, and even loss of the eye. This case describes the first use of stem cells - which help the immune system repair the cornea - to treat a dolphin's eye. 

Read Article

Understanding Marine Mammal Health in a Changing Ocean

Novel Long-Lasting Therapy to Treat Eye Ulcers in Sea Lions

Treating Eye Infections In Dolphins with Stem Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma

Published marine mammal disease cases across regions in North America. Simeone et al. 2015.

Marine mammals are often seen as sentinels of ocean health, but accessible, cohesive data on their health changes are rare. A real-time system for reporting marine mammal disease data is needed to be able to understand how marine mammal diseases are changing with ecosystem changes. 

Read Article

Novel Long-Lasting Therapy to Treat Eye Ulcers in Sea Lions

Novel Long-Lasting Therapy to Treat Eye Ulcers in Sea Lions

Novel Long-Lasting Therapy to Treat Eye Ulcers in Sea Lions

Sea lion with corneal ulcer treated with novel therapy. Simeone et al 2016 Veterinary Ophthalmology

Eye ulcers are common in sea lions, whose large, protruding eyes are uniquely tailored to live both in water and on land. Oral antibiotics and topical eye drops can be difficult to administer, and new therapies were desired. This study showed that a new treatment, using an antibiotic gel injected near the eye, is a safe and effective alternative treatment for superficial ulcers in pinnipeds. 

Read Article

Dolphins Metabolize Pain Medications Differently Than We Do

Novel Long-Lasting Therapy to Treat Eye Ulcers in Sea Lions

Novel Long-Lasting Therapy to Treat Eye Ulcers in Sea Lions

Graph of blood levels of meloxicam after oral dosing in dolphins. Simeone et al. 2014.

Dolphins have highly specialized bodies, and they can metabolize drugs in surprising ways. This study looked at the way the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) meloxicam moves through the body. After an oral dose, the drug reached a peak similar to what is therapeutic in other species. However, the drug's half-life was much longer than is seen in other species, and the drug was detectable for up to 7 days. 

Read Article

Cetacean Morbillivirus Causes Sporadic Disease Along Pacific Coast of U.S.

Cetacean Morbillivirus Causes Sporadic Disease Along Pacific Coast of U.S.

Cetacean Morbillivirus Causes Sporadic Disease Along Pacific Coast of U.S.

Microscopic inflammation in the brain of a stranded striped dolphin infected with morbillivirus.

Cetacean morbilliviruses, closely related to measles in humans and canine distemper virus in dogs, have been documented to cause large epidemics in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea but not in the North Pacific Ocean, and the reasons for this are unknown. A review of 212 strandings from 2000-2015 found a morbillivirus most closely related to two strains found in cetaceans in Hawaii. This study suggests that morbillivirus may be a rare contributor to mortality in cetaceans stranding along the California coast.

Read Article

Oil Spills Affect Marine Mammal Health

Cetacean Morbillivirus Causes Sporadic Disease Along Pacific Coast of U.S.

Cetacean Morbillivirus Causes Sporadic Disease Along Pacific Coast of U.S.

Largest oil spills affecting US waters. NOAA Fisheries, Technical Memorandum.

Marine mammal health is significantly affected by the effects of oil spills. This Technical Memorandum from NOAA Fisheries helps officials conduct Natural Resources Damage Assessments so that the health of populations and ecosystems can be restored following a catastrophic event like a spill. 

Read Article

New Myopathy Discovered in Elephant Seal Pups

Cetacean Morbillivirus Causes Sporadic Disease Along Pacific Coast of U.S.

Pinniped Bites in Swimmers: Treatment Recommendations

White streaks in the abdominal wall muscles and microscopic necrosis. Spraker et al 2019.

In a survey of northern elephant seal pups, findings of a new necrotizing myopathy were observed. White streaks were found in the muscles of the abdominal wall. A cause of the muscle disease has not yet been identified. 

Read Article

Pinniped Bites in Swimmers: Treatment Recommendations

Pinniped Bites in Swimmers: Treatment Recommendations

Pinniped Bites in Swimmers: Treatment Recommendations

California sea lion in San Francisco Bay. Photo via Nuckton et al.

From October 2011 to December 2014, 11 swimmers reported bites by a sea lion or harbor seal. All bites involved 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. 

Read Article

Marine Mammals Affected by Human-Induced Trauma

Pinniped Bites in Swimmers: Treatment Recommendations

Marine Mammals Affected by Human-Induced Trauma

Graph of total strandings and anthropogenic trauma cases, from Barcenas et al.

From January 2003 to September 2015 a total of 11,162 marine mammals were admitted to a rehabilitation center. Of those, 6% had evidence of anthropogenic trauma. Tracking these trends is important to understand causes and inform mitigation efforts. 

Read Article

Book Chapters

Stranding Response

Stranding Response

Stranding Response

CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine cover.

Marine mammals strand ashore for a variety of reasons. Investigating the causes of these strandings provides key data on marine mammal and ocean health. 


For three decades, the CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine has been acknowledged as the most respected scientific reference specifically devoted to marine mammal medicine and health.

Buy this book

Diseases

Stranding Response

Stranding Response

Marine Mammal Physiology cover.

Marine mammals are exquisitely adapted to live in an ocean environment, and these adaptations can explain many of the diseases they have. 


Marine Mammal Physiology: Requisites for Ocean Living is the first textbook focused on how marine mammals live in the sea from a physiological point of view. 

Buy this book

Marine Mammal Strandings

Pharmaceuticals and Formulary

Pharmaceuticals and Formulary

Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals 3rd edition cover.

Marine mammals strand ashore for a variety of reasons. Investigating the causes of these strandings provides key data on marine mammal and ocean health. 


The Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, Third Edition covers the ecology, behavior, conservation, evolution, form and function of whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, dugongs, otters and polar bears. 

Buy this book

Pharmaceuticals and Formulary

Pharmaceuticals and Formulary

Pharmaceuticals and Formulary

CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine 3rd edition cover.

Understanding how drugs are metabolized, and common side effects of medications are critical to practicing marine mammal medicine. 


For three decades, the CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine has been acknowledged as the most respected scientific reference specifically devoted to marine mammal medicine and health.

Buy This Book

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