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BLOOD
White Blood Cell
Different components of blood have different jobs: red
blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight toxins and
infections, and platelets cause blood to clot.
Lab technicians look at blood under a microscope to
compare if there are more than normal of any blood
component. Once they determine what the animal’s body is
responding to, the veterinarian can treat the patient.
Prepare a microscope slide in the circle below using Playdoh
of a sea lion infected with Domoic Acid Toxicosis and is
therefore fighting a toxin.
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to interpret. Remove the bottom of this page to share.
Red Blood Cells
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Platelets
FECAL
Evidence of parasites living in an animal’s digestive tract can
be found in fecal (or poop) samples. Many parasites depend
on their host’s feces to spread eggs and larvae back into the
environment. Most parasites make their host’s sick, but some
marine mammals have become immune to common parasite
species.
Lab technicians look at fecal samples under the microscope
to determine what species of parasites are present and how
harmful they are to their host.
Tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium pacificum) egg
Prepare a microscope slide in the circle below using Playdoh
of an elephant seal infected with Otostrongylus circumlitus
larvae, a lungworm.
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to interpret. Remove the bottom of this page to share.
Lungworm (Otostrongylus circumlitus) larvae
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WATER
Water samples are taken from the animals’ pools to test for
bacteria that could make the artificial environment unsafe.
Marine mammals often carry diseases that could cause an
outbreak or be harmful to humans.
Lab technicians use petri dishes to culture, or grow, whatever
bacteria are in a water sample. If the culture is positive
(successfully grows) for certain bacteria, life support staff can
treat the water so it is safe for the animals to swim in.
Positive E. coli culture
Prepare a petri dish view in the circle below using Playdoh of
a water sample positive for E. coli, which is present in many
marine mammals and can make humans very sick.
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to interpret. Remove the bottom of this page to share.
Culture positive for many kinds of bacteria
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