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Source: https://www.ksbw.com/article/unseas...rosis-central-coast-wildlife-experts/65557250
Unseasonal outbreak of leptospirosis alarms Central Coast wildlife experts
An early and aggressive wave of the kidney-attacking disease is hitting sea lions harder than in past years, with growing concerns for dogs and beachgoers.
Updated: 11:56 AM PDT Jul 31, 2025
Jazmon DeJarnette Reporter
MOSS LANDING, Calif. —
A threat to the Central Coast sea lion population has come around earlier than expected. Leptosphirosis is a bacterial disease that severely attacks the kidneys of marine animals.
Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for Marine Mammal Center, says these spikes used to happen every 3 to 5 years, but now, we're seeing them annually.
Rulli says what's driving this concern, "is the fact that that spike of when we typically see it, which is usually late summer, to early fall, this latest outbreak began, at the beginning of this month, which is far earlier than what we are normally accustomed to have, seeing this over four plus decades of responding to it in real time."
This outbreak is more severe than it's been in past years, with 100 sea lions diagnosed just this month. Zulli says it's unclear when those numbers will drop.
The disease is zoonotic, meaning it can spread easily to humans and especially to dogs...
Unseasonal outbreak of leptospirosis alarms Central Coast wildlife experts
An early and aggressive wave of the kidney-attacking disease is hitting sea lions harder than in past years, with growing concerns for dogs and beachgoers.
Updated: 11:56 AM PDT Jul 31, 2025
Jazmon DeJarnette Reporter
MOSS LANDING, Calif. —
A threat to the Central Coast sea lion population has come around earlier than expected. Leptosphirosis is a bacterial disease that severely attacks the kidneys of marine animals.
Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for Marine Mammal Center, says these spikes used to happen every 3 to 5 years, but now, we're seeing them annually.
Rulli says what's driving this concern, "is the fact that that spike of when we typically see it, which is usually late summer, to early fall, this latest outbreak began, at the beginning of this month, which is far earlier than what we are normally accustomed to have, seeing this over four plus decades of responding to it in real time."
This outbreak is more severe than it's been in past years, with 100 sea lions diagnosed just this month. Zulli says it's unclear when those numbers will drop.
The disease is zoonotic, meaning it can spread easily to humans and especially to dogs...