By: Daniela Silva
A unknown disease that affected the lives and killed hundreds of seals in cape Breton and 406 in 2012 has been identified as a new strain of sarcocystis. It is not known to affect the lives of humans but has contributed to the deaths of many animals including walruses, bears and sea lions. It is not known if the strain has died off.
Sarcocystis can affect reptiles,birds and mammals and is a genus of parasitic protozoa. With over 130 species, new discoveries are continuously ongoing and receive their name from the animals they take as a host; vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness and and paralysis are the effects caused by a toxin the sarcocystin produces.
The strain is spreading through global changes in temperature to many animals, and it is not the only pathogen affecting animals, Toxoplasma Gondii is also increasing its boundaries due to the change in temperature. This is and can be fatal to humans, and causes miscarriages in women, commonly found in domestic house cats.
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