Thomson Christine E, Field Cara L, Whoriskey Sophie T, McClain Abby M, Duignan Pádraig J, Castellini J Margaret, Lian Marianne, Kruse-Elliott Kris T, Dennison Sophie, O'Hara Todd M
Animal Referral Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA, United States.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Oct 1;12:1656366. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1656366. eCollection 2025.
Stranded Pacific harbor seal (HS, ) pups admitted to rehabilitation centers have a variety of health problems, including neurological disorders. However, the standard neurological examination protocol for land-based quadrupeds does not suit marine mammals such as seals. In this study we aimed to develop and establish a neurological examination protocol (NEx) for phocid seal pups undergoing rehabilitation. In two consecutive years, we assessed stranded HS pups ( = 45; males = 21, females = 24) in care at The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC), Sausalito, California. The draft protocol developed in year 1 was refined to yield 33 tests, including many tests from domestic small animal examination, as well as novel tests dictated by the animals' functional anatomy. The latter included the sloping ramp to assess proprioception and motor function, the handstand (to assess neck reflexes), banana pose, and grasp reflex. A fish head was suspended above the subject to assess balance, strength, coordination, and cranial nerve function, including visual field. Specific tests were considered highly useful if they had a reliable outcome in ≥ 80% of cases. In some pups, temperament made it challenging to discern the outcomes of some tests. The reliability of the 33 tests was assessed during repeated examinations on 17 animals; 26/33 tests yielded a reliable response in ≥ 80% of the exams. Three pups (L, P, and N) with suspected neurological deficits were assessed using the protocol. The NEx accurately predicted the neuroanatomical lesion localization, as confirmed by imaging and/or necropsy results. The neurological examination protocol developed for HS pups takes 9-12 min to perform. Although this protocol was developed in HS pups, it should be adaptable for other phocids.
被送到康复中心的 stranded Pacific harbor seal (HS, )幼崽有各种健康问题，包括神经紊乱。然而，针对陆地上四足动物的标准神经检查方案并不适用于海豹等海洋哺乳动物。在本研究中，我们旨在为正在接受康复治疗的海豹幼崽制定并建立一种神经检查方案（NEx）。在连续两年的时间里，我们对加利福尼亚州索萨利托市海洋哺乳动物中心（TMMC）接受护理的 stranded HS幼崽（n = 45；雄性 = 21，雌性 = 24）进行了评估。第1年制定的方案草案经过完善，产生了33项测试，包括许多来自家养小动物检查的测试，以及由动物功能解剖结构决定的新测试。后者包括用于评估本体感觉和运动功能的倾斜坡道、倒立（评估颈部反射）、香蕉姿势和抓握反射。将一个鱼头悬挂在受试动物上方，以评估平衡、力量、协调性和颅神经功能，包括视野。如果某项特定测试在≥80%的病例中具有可靠的结果，则被认为非常有用。在一些幼崽中，由于其性情，难以辨别某些测试的结果。在对17只动物进行的重复检查中评估了这33项测试的可靠性；33项测试中有26项在≥80%的检查中产生了可靠的反应。使用该方案对3只疑似神经功能缺损的幼崽（L、P和N）进行了评估。如影像学和/或尸检结果所证实，NEx准确预测了神经解剖病变的定位。为HS幼崽制定的神经检查方案执行时间为9 - 12分钟。尽管该方案是针对HS幼崽制定的，但应该适用于其他海豹科动物。
