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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Metacercariae in Coprolites of Seals of the Genus Pachyphoca (Cystophorinae, Phocidae) from the Late Miocene of the North Caucasus.

Journal:
Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections
Year:
2023
Authors:
Tarasenko, K K & Sivkova, T N
Affiliation:
Borisiak Paleontological Institute

Abstract

Coprolites of the seal Pachyphoca volkodavi from the Upper Miocene deposits (Kherson) of the Fortepyanka locality (Republic of Adygea) were studied. Two out of five seal coprolites contained a structure resembling fish muscle tissue and included objects with morphology of trematode metacercariae. Obviously, the larvae of the parasite got into the digestive tract of seals from the fish they ate. Microscopic analysis of the coprolites did not reveal helminth eggs, which indicates possible absence of infection.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37833587/