Intestinal parasites in Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) Sivertsen, 1953 on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador.

Knowledge regarding endoparasites of Galapagos sea lions, Zalophus wollebaeki Sivertsen, 1953, is limited to 1 report. Herein, we examined feces extracted from the lower gastro-intestinal tract of 15 Galapagos sea lions (GSL) plus 14 fecal mounds nearby GSL at 4 locations on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos beginning in May continuing through June 2016. Using standard fecal flotation and sedimentation techniques, lungworm larvae, suggestive of Parafilaroides and Otostrongylus sp., eggs of pseudophyllidea cestodes and anisakid nematodes, and coccidian oocysts were collected from study samples. This is the first report of potential lungworm larvae, anisakids, pseudophyllidea cestodes and coccidian parasites in GSL.