Hematology, Biochemistry, and Venous Blood Gas Panel Reference Intervals for Rehabilitated Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii)
IAAAM 2022
Sarah E. Wright1*+; Cassandra Girdlestone1; Kyle Kansman2; Martin Haulena1
1Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 2Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA

Abstract

Reference intervals for blood analytes are important diagnostic tools that clinicians use as a basis for making clinical decisions. Reference intervals for some blood parameters have been previously reported in marine mammals, including harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).1–4 Point-of-care analyzers enable rapid clinical decision making. However, there are no established reference intervals for analytes from point-of-care analyzers in this species.5 The objective of this study was to establish de novo reference intervals for packed cell volume (PCV) and total solids (TS), and for lactate, glucose, and 18 commonly used chemistry and venous blood gas analytes using portable point-of-care analyzers in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii). This study is based on blood samples from 29 clinically normal rehabilitated harbor seals in British Columbia. Guidelines by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology were followed to generate robust reference intervals from the data collected. This study establishes reference intervals for manual PCV (37.4–63.1%) and TS (7.05–9.24 g/dl), lactate (1.42–7.48 mmol/l) via the Lactate Plus Meter, glucose (3.7–7.2 mmol/l) via the Contour® NEXT glucometer, and 18 chemistry and venous blood gas panel analytes (anion gap 12.2–23.6 mmol/l, base excess -4.1–8.6 mmol/l, HCO3 23.09–33.66 mmol/l, BUN 33.2–64.4 mg/dl, chloride 100.8–112.2 mmol/l, creatinine 0.16–0.77 mg/dl, glucose 3.05–9.80 mmol/l, hematocrit 35.9–64.4%, hemoglobin 12.30–21.82 g/dl, ionized calcium 1.023–1.325 mmol/l, lactate 0.63–11.84 mmol/l, SO2 87.7–100%, potassium 3.21–4.98 mmol/l, pCO2 27.33–79.27 mmHg, pO2 47.1–222.2 mmHg, pH 7.16–7.50, sodium 140.8–147.1 mmol/l, TCO2 19.6–31 mmol/l) via the Vetscan i-STAT® 1 Portable Clinical Analyzer. This study presents the first report of venous blood gas reference intervals for rehabilitated Pacific harbor seals. The blood analyte data from this study is comparable with hematology and biochemistry data that has been previously reported in harbor seals. These results provide baseline health data for harbor seals.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the volunteers and staff of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre for their efforts in harbor seal rehabilitation and conservation.

Literature Cited

1.  Greig DJ, Gulland FMD, Rios C, Hall A. 2010. Hematology and serum chemistry in stranded and wild-caught harbor seals in central California: Reference intervals, predictors of survival, and parameters affecting blood variables. J Wildl Dis 46:1172–1184.

2.  Hasselmeier I, Fonfara S, Driver J, Siebert U. 2008. Differential hematology profiles of free-ranging rehabilitated and captive harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) of the German North Sea. Aquat Mamm 34:149–156.

3.  Trumble SJ, Castellini. 2002. Blood chemistry, hematology, and morphology of wild harbor seal pups in Alaska. J Wildl Manage 66:1197–1207.

4.  Trumble SJ, Castellini M, Mau TL, Castellini JM. 2006. Dietary and seasonal influences on blood chemistry and hematology in captive harbor seals. Mar Mam Sci 22:104–123.

5.  Witte KA, Driver J, Rosenberger T, Adler S, Siebert U. 2014. Analysis of blood gases, serum fat and serum protein: a new approach to estimate survival chances of stranded Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups from the German North Sea. Acta Vet Scand Suppl 56:1–9.

 

Speaker Information
(click the speaker's name to view other papers and abstracts submitted by this speaker)

Sarah E. Wright
Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver, BC, Canada


MAIN : Poster : Rehabilitated Pacific Harbor Seal Reference Intervals
Powered By VIN
SAID=27