Sea otters can't compete with parasites

Davis, Calif.-Parasites in freshwater runoff may be toblame for the alarming number of deaths of federally protected southern seaotters in California, report scientists.

The sharp climb in sea otter deaths in the state in recent yearshas prompted scientists to examine potential sources of contamination.Investigators at the Wildlife Health Center of the University of CaliforniaDavis and other agencies are examining the possibility of Toxoplasmacontamination.

In a study published in the July issue of the InternationalJournal for Parasitology, researchers used a new diagnostic test created by UCDavis scientists, to evaluate 223 live and dead sea otters. Authors found that42 percent of live otters and 62 percent of dead otters were infected withToxoplasma.

The study suggests that land-based freshwater runoff may be onecause of Toxoplasma infection in sea otters.

Presently the otter population is 10 percent lower than in 1995.