Abstract
Cold-stunning in sea turtles is a frequent natural cause of mortality and is defined as a hypothermic state due to exposure to water temperatures <12°C.3,6,7 Derangements of biochemistry and hematology data by cold-stunning have been well documented, though the effects on coagulation have not yet been investigated.1,3-5 The objectives of this study were to characterize the hemostatic state of non-cold-stunned sea turtles and to compare cold-stunned sea turtles at admission and after successful rehabilitation via a sea turtle-specific thromboelastography (TEG) protocol. TEG enables evaluation of the entire coagulation process, and the methodology has recently been established in sea turtles.2 Initially, 30 wild and apparently healthy sea turtles were sampled (loggerhead sea turtles, Cc [Caretta caretta] = 17, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, Lk [Lepidochelys kempii] = eight, and green turtles, Cm [Chelonia mydas] = five) as controls. Additionally, paired TEG samples were performed on 32 Cm and 14 Lk, at admission and pre-release after successful rehabilitation from cold-stunning. Statistically significant differences in R (reaction time), K (kinetics), α (angle), and MA (maximum amplitude) parameters in Lk and Cm species demonstrated that the time taken for blood clot formation was prolonged and the strength of the clot formed was reduced by cold-stunning. These findings indicate that cold-stunning may cause disorders in hemostasis that can contribute to the severity of the condition. Early diagnosis of coagulopathies in the clinical assessment of a cold-stunned sea turtle may influence the treatment approach and clinical outcome of the case.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Rescue and Rehabilitation and Animal Health Departments at New England Aquarium for sampling assistance and sea turtle care during rehabilitation, and the staff at KBSTRRC, STAR, and NC Aquarium at PKS for their dedicated care during rehabilitation. Also, thanks to Dr. Terry Norton at Georgia Sea Turtle Center for turtle care and assistance with pre-release sample collection. The authors thank Marjory Brooks from the Comparative Coagulation Section, Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, for the brain thromboplastin protocol. In addition, the authors thank Joanne Braun McNeill, Larisa Avens, and April Hall for sample collection from free-ranging turtles; Heather Broadhurst, Matthew Godfrey, and Sarah Finn for brain tissue. Samples were collected under NMFS ESA scientific research Permit Number 16733, and held and processed under NC WRC Endangered Species Permit 15ST44 and 16ST42 and NEAQ Animal Care and Use Committee Protocol # 2015-25.
* Presenting author
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