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

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