… The corkscrew-shaped bacteria, leptospirosis, causes severe abdominal pain in sea lions by damaging their kidneys and inflaming their gastrointestinal tracts. … Since the end of June, officials say nearly 400 animals have been reported stranded or sickened along the Central Coast beaches. … Hundreds more probably were washed away before anyone spotted them, or died at sea. The historically large and long bacterial outbreak is adding to an already devastating death toll for the seals, sea lions, dolphins, otters and whales who live in and migrate through the state’s coastal waters.