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Toxoplasma oocysts survive for up to two years in salt water—so the parasite also plagues the ocean. Oocysts enter streams and rivers and are washed out to sea, where they’re ingested by filter-feeding animals like cockles and mussels, as well as by fish. From there, the parasite works its way up the food chain.
When it lodges in the body of a marine mammal, it can do enormous damage. Toxoplasmosis, the disease the parasite causes, kills sea otters in California, spinner dolphins in Hawaii and Hawaiian monk seals. It’s even been detected in seals in Antarctica. Seabirds, too, are likely at risk.
And in New Zealand, it’s killing our endangered dolphins.
Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue: 183 September / October 2023.
Read the Feature: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-special-case-of-our-smallest-dolphins/
Photograph Richard Robinson © 2023.
Rights managed image. No Reproduction without prior written permission.
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Richard Robinson © 2023. No Reproduction without prior written permission.
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THE SPECIAL CASE OF OUR SMALLEST DOLPHINS
Toxoplasma oocysts survive for up to two years in salt water—so the parasite also plagues the ocean. Oocysts enter streams and rivers and are washed out to sea, where they’re ingested by filter-feeding animals like cockles and mussels, as well as by fish. From there, the parasite works its way up the food chain.<br /> When it lodges in the body of a marine mammal, it can do enormous damage. Toxoplasmosis, the disease the parasite causes, kills sea otters in California, spinner dolphins in Hawaii and Hawaiian monk seals. It’s even been detected in seals in Antarctica. Seabirds, too, are likely at risk.<br /> And in New Zealand, it’s killing our endangered dolphins.<br /> Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue: 183 September / October 2023.<br /> Read the Feature: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-special-case-of-our-smallest-dolphins/<br /> Photograph Richard Robinson © 2023.<br /> Rights managed image. No Reproduction without prior written permission.