Cetacean Fibrinogen Levels: Comparing In-House and Reference Laboratory Results in Stranded Short-Finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorynchus)
Abstract
Fibrinogen is considered one of the best indicators of inflammatory disease in marine mammals and is among the priority emergency clinical tests recommended for stranded cetaceans by the CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine.2 All of these recommended tests are commonly performed in-house, producing results within minutes, with the exception of fibrinogen. Rapid results are preferable in the case of acutely ill or injured cetaceans. Results from a reference laboratory may take up to 24 hours. Adding fibrinogen to in-house testing abilities eliminates that delay. The objective of this study is to determine the usefulness and accuracy of an in-house fibrinogen analyzer by comparing the results of a point-of-care analyzer to those obtained via reference laboratory. Fibrinogen is measured in-house by the Abaxis VetScanVSpro using a modified Clauss clotting rate assay and optical measurement.3 Outside laboratory testing is performed by Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center using a similar method.1 Results are evaluated for statistical correlation as well as clinical value. The in-house analyzer is not validated for cetacean species and they are not considered a "supported species" by the manufacturer. Clinically applicable results support the use of an in-house fibrinogen analyzer and create an impetus for further study to validate the analyzer for cetacean species.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Protect Florida Whales specialty license plate program for funding this project and stranding response. We also wish to acknowledge the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, Florida State Park Services, Ocean Embassy, and other members of the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network including Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, SeaWorld Florida, Georgia Aquarium's Conservation Field Station, and the Marine Mammal Conservancy.
* Presenting author
+ Student presenter
Literature Cited
1. Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center. Web. Accessed December 2012. Tests for Fibrinogen. ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/clinpath/modules/coags/fibtest.htm
2. Dierauf L, Gulland F. 2001. CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Health, Disease, and Rehabilitation. CRC Press.
3. Epstein KL, Brainard BM. An evaluation of the VSpro for the measurement of equine plasma fibrinogen concentrations. [Published online ahead of print Sep 1 2011]. Equine Vet J. 2011. DOI: 10.1111/j.2042–3306.2011.00453.x