Fungal dermatitis in captive pinnipeds

C G. Pollock
Barton W. Rohrbach Dr., University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Edward C. Ramsay

Abstract

Fungal dermatitis was diagnosed in two captive gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) and four harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from the Knoxville Zoological Gardens, Tennessee between 1992 and 1994. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Malassezia spp., and Yarrowia (Candida) lipolytica were isolated. Erythematous, thickened, alopecic skin lesions were present on the face and on the flippers, particularly around the nail bed. The two most important environmental factors associated with development of fungal dermatitis appeared to be excessive chlorination of pool water and warm temperature. This is thought to be the first report of these organisms in pinnipeds.