MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In what has been termed "a groundbreaking and unprecedented discovery" by local vets and the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.), a seal found at The Point, and its unborn pup both tested positive for rabies.
Hartenbos Animal Hospital's Dr Frans de Graaff said the tests were done by the state vet. The seal was brought to the animal hospital on Wednesday, 25 September, and the positive results were received on Tuesday, 1 October.
Dr Greg Hofmeyr, the curator for marine mammals at Bayworld in Gqeberha and a marine biologist, said this was the first incident of a seal passing on the rabies virus to its unborn pup, that he knows of.
De Graaff said S.M.A.R.T was notified on 25 September of an adult seal at the Point, Mossel Bay, that showed neurological signs of rabies
"S.M.A.R.T. volunteers monitored the seal closely throughout the day and sent various videos of the seal's behaviour to all persons involved, including experts on seal behaviour.
"It was later decided that S.M.A.R.T. needed to capture her and euthanasia was suggested by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and several other parties," said De Graaff.
Photo: Michael de Nobrega
Help
S.M.A.R.T. spokesperson Val Marsh said that with the help of the Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) Mossel Bay and Mossel Bay municipal Law Enforcement, the seal was captured and transported to Hartenbos Animal Hospital for evaluation.
De Graaff confirmed the seal was an adult female and that the seal's contractions S.M.A.R.T. observed could have been because the seal was about to abort the pub.
"Upon arrival, she was very agitated and attacked the containment hoop net. Signs that were reported by S.M.A.R.T. and the GRSPCA were stargazing behaviour (the head and neck are raised almost straight up), convulsions and possible hydrophobia (extreme fear of water).
"She also had severe convulsions at the hospital. After speaking to all relevant parties and obtaining permission to euthanise, the veterinary team from Hartenbos Animal Hospital sedated and euthanised her in a pain-free way," he said.
"Upon further examination, after euthanasia, it was confirmed she was pregnant with a premature seal pup. Samples were taken by Dr Anthony Creighton to test for rabies from both the mother and the premature foetus, to see if rabies can infect premature young."
Tersia Marais from S.M.A.R.T. observing the seal from a safe distance. Photo: Michael de Nobrega
Rare
Hofmeyr said he and relevant authorities only learnt about the outbreak of rabies in seals earlier this year, "so everything is completely new and what we have to go on is everything we have learnt from rabies in other species".
He said: "Rabies being passed from a mother to the foetus has happened in other species but is very rare. Rabies is passed on to other animals through the saliva. There have been a few cases in dogs and in humans, where the disease was passed from the mother to the unborn child, but again, it is rare," said Hofmeyr.
Pup season
Hofmeyr said Cape fur seals breed seasonally and annually and that the "pupping season" is usually from late October to early January.
"The Cape fur seal colonies will be full during November, December and January."
He said there would be many adult males on the beaches, defending their territories and mothers defending their pups.
"There will be more locals and tourists on the beaches. The only way to reduce risk of humans being bitten is by making the public aware and distributing information about rabies," he said.
"If animals are infected with rabies and it is symptomatic, this is the time of year they will likely pass it on to one another."
Hofmeyr said pups are usually birthed on islands, and off Mossel Bay, that would be Seal Island, located between Dias Beach and Bay View Beach.
There are concerns about pups being bitten by infected seals and then being washed up and stranded on the mainland.
Photo: Michael de Nobrega
Four cases
This latest positive result brings the total cases of rabies in seals to four, excluding the unborn pup, in the greater Mossel Bay area since 17 July.
Western Cape Department of Agriculture spokesperson Mary James urges people to continue to be alert regarding seals or other animals behaving unusually, to keep their distance and report incidents to the local state vet office and to ensure their dogs' and cats' rabies vaccinations are up to date.
The Mossel Bay Municipality said it held its first cross-functional workshop pertaining to rabies in Cape fur seals in July this year.
"In line with the response of other organs of state, such as the Western Cape Department of Health, public awareness campaigns on various media platforms – which have a broad public reach – will be ongoing and information will be updated as and when necessary," it said.
Report any seals ashore or incidents immediately to S.M.A.R.T. (072 227 4715), Dr Hofmeyr (071 724 2122) or the municipality (all hours, 044 606 5000).
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