Miller advises those who work closely with marine mammals to be careful. “I’m an animal lover so any kind of parasite that would kill an animal - yes, it would be a concern,” she said. “They’re just really cute,” said Debbie Curtin.Ĭurtin is visiting from Fresno and is worried about the potential harm this could bring to the sea otter population. On Friday, visitors flocked to the sea otter nursery in Morro Bay. Sea otters are one of many draws to the Central Coast. “This is a parasite that the only known source for the parasite to go land to sea is from fecal material that cats pass after their initial infection,” Miller said. Though there are no confirmed human cases of Toxoplasma gondii, veterinary specialists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife say the parasite can be passed onto humans through cats and they are monitoring the situation closely. Three of those are from San Luis Obispo County ranging from San Simeon down to Morro Bay and the fourth one was found off the City of Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz County," said Melissa Miller, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Veterinary Specialist and Pathologist. “So right now we have four confirmed cases. Wildlife officials say four sea otters have been killed by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii.
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