Evaluation of Bone Marrow Aspirates in Marine Mammals
IAAAM Archive
William Medway1, DVM, PhD; Jay C. Sweeney2, VMD
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 2Naval Undersea Center, San Diego, CA

Abstract

Bone marrow aspirates from an anemic fur seal (C. ursinus), Pacific white-sided dolphin (L. obliquidens), California sea line (Z. californianus), and a bottlenose dolphin

(T. truncatus) were examined. All animals showed evidence of progressive anemia over protracted periods of time. The fur seal was the only animal that recovered. An attempt was made to correlate clinical signs with bone marrow evaluations.

Aspirates from three normal California sea lions and four normal bottlenose dolphins were also examined for comparative purposes.

Notes

Site of Aspiration (dolphin): Vertebral body in the tail stalk (neck of tail)

Method: Take a peripheral blood smear at the same time as a bone marrow aspirate for comparison. Marrow clots, so smear them quickly and air dry. Do many.

Nonresponsive Anemia:

  1. Can be due to toxemia interfering with iron incorporation.

  2. Iron deficiency shows up on Prussian Blue Stain where no iron is seen.

Polymorphonuclear cells can stop their development at the dumb bell shape. This is similar to that seen in cows with chronic disorders and is known as a pseudo Pelger-Huet anomaly. The presence of these cells is used to indicate prognosis. If these cells disappear, the animal is likely recovering.

Speaker Information
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William Medway, DVM, PhD

Jay C. Sweeney, VMD
Veterinary Consultants Service
San Diego, CA


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