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Monterey Sea Lions Dying Of Kidney Disorder

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Oct 25, 2008 6:17 pm US/Pacific

Monterey Sea Lions Dying Of Kidney Disorder

  Marine biologists say a large number of Monterey's sea lions have died this year because of a disease that affects their kidneys.

The Marine Mammal Center is studying the disease -- called leptospirosis -- which afflicts a large number of California's sea lions every four or five years. The last outbreak was recorded in 2004, when 45 percent of sea lions tested by the center were diagnosed with the disease.

The center says this year is looking like another outbreak, and hopes its new study will help them understand why.

Dr. Jeffrey Boehm, the center's executive director, says previous studies focused on stranded animals and that this year they are going to catch and release wild sea lions for testing. This will allow scientists to test animals who have contracted the disease before they get sick.

Leptospirosis attacks the sea lions' kidneys, which remove waste products from the blood and control the amount of water in the body.

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