Disease relevance of Phoca

• They were also investigated with 16 newly developed MAbs directed against the fusion (F) and large glycoprotein (named H in analogy with measles virus) of phocid distemper virus (PDV) isolated from a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) [1].
• As the function of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in protection against and adaptation to hypoxia has been recognized in terrestrial animals, we have investigated the genomics and expression of this protein in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) in order to determine if it may play a protective role in this diving mammal [2].
• Toxic equivalency factors given by Safe (1990) was used for calculation of the contribution to dioxin-like toxicity from the coplanar CB congeners, and the result was compared to literature data on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -dibenzofurans in harbor seal [3].
• Influenza A virus of serotype Hav1 Neq1 (H7N7 by the 1980 revised influenza typing system proposed by WHO experts) was repeatedly isolated from lung and brain tissues taken from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) found suffering from pneumonia on Cape Cod Peninsula (U.S.A.) in the winter of 1979-1980 [4].
• In a semi-field study, we previously showed that harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) fed herring from the contaminated Baltic Sea had lower natural killer cell activity, T-lymphocyte functionality and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses than seals fed herring from the relatively uncontaminated Atlantic Ocean [5].

High impact information on Phoca

• In this study, we investigated the response of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) to the underwater calls of different populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) [6].
• Comparison with the cytochrome b gene of the Hawaiian monk seal and the Weddell seal suggested that the lineage of these two species and that of the grey and harbor seals separated approximately 8 million years ago [7].
• Two groups of 11 harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) originating from a relatively uncontaminated area were fed herring from either the highly polluted Baltic Sea or the relatively uncontaminated Atlantic Ocean [8].
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) tissues [2].
• A suite of 37 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners and all of the homologue groups from mono- to deca-brominated were determined in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) blubber collected from subsistence hunts in the Canadian Arctic in 1981, 1991, 1996, and 2000 [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of Phoca

• Cadmium toxicity to ringed seals (Phoca hispida): an epidemiological study of possible cadmium-induced nephropathy and osteodystrophy in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Qaanaaq in Northwest Greenland [10].
• The diving responses of apnea and bradycardia, produced experimentally by immersing the face in water, were successfully elicited in the harbor seal Phoca vitulina anesthetized with urethan [11].

Biological context of Phoca

• Total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and 22 other trace elements were measured in ice algae, three species of zooplankton, mixed zooplankton samples, Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and eight species of seabirds to examine the trophodynamics of these metals in an Arctic marine food web [12].
• Tissue distribution and plasma activity values of creatine kinase (CK), aldolase (ALS), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were determined in 6 ringed seals, Phoca hispida, and in 7 harp seals, P groenlandica [13].
• In general, hematology and chemistry values in adults were similar to those reported for free-ranging and captive harbor seals, except for glucose, urea nitrogen, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values, which were higher than those reported previously [14].
• Amoxicillin pharmacokinetics in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) following single dose intravenous administration: implications for interspecific dose scaling [15].

Anatomical context of Phoca

• Diurnal patterns of cortisol and thyroid hormones in the Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) during summer and winter seasons [16].
• 1. Adipose tissues associated with the mystacial and superciliary vibrissae of the Saimaa seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) contained 31% of hexadecenoic acid (16:1 omega 7), which was almost twice the already high amount in blubber [17].
• The capacity of microsomes to metabolise a technical toxaphene mixture decreased in the order Phoca vitulina (harbour seal) >> Lagenorhynchus albirostris (whitebeaked dolphin) approximately equal to Diomedea immutabilis (Laysan albatross) > Physeter macrocephalus (sperm whale) [18].

Associations of Phoca with chemical compounds

• In a 2.5-year study, we fed herring from either the relatively uncontaminated Atlantic Ocean or the contaminated Baltic Sea to two groups of captive harbor seals and monitored immune function in the seals [19].
• Progesterone and oestradiol-17 beta concentration profiles throughout the reproductive cycle in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) [20].
• Based on our food basket results, the estimated daily intake of sigmaPCB toxic equivalents to dioxin by Puget Sound harbor seals exceeds some wildlife consumption guidelines for PCBs [21].
• Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, mercury, cadmium, copper, selenium, arsenic, and zinc in the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina, in Norwegian waters [22].
• Distribution patterns of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) tissues: statistical analysis [23].

Gene context of Phoca

• Earlier studies have shown that members of the cytochrome P4501 (CYP1) enzyme family are constitutively expressed, and are elevated in the livers of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) living in the heavily polluted Baltic Sea [24].
• Thus, the harbor seal AHR bound TCDD with an affinity that was at least as high as that of the mouse AHR, suggesting that this seal species may be sensitive to PHAH effects [25].
• From 16 largha seals (Phoca largha) and 15 ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) in the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, blubber chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels and hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) catalytic activities and their immunochemically detected protein content levels were measured [26].
• Between 1990 and 1993 samples of hair, liver, kidney and muscle were collected from 28 ringed seals from Lake Ladoga, Phoca hispida ladogensis, 20 ringed seals, Phoca hispida hispida, and three bearded seals, Erignathus barbatus, from the White Sea for heavy-metal residue analyses in tissues [27].
• Antibodies to influenza A virus were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the sera from two of seven Baikal seals (Phoca sibrica) and from five of six ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Russia [28].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Phoca

• Immobilization of harp seals, Phoca groenlandica, by intravenous injection of ketamine [29].

References