Publication Date:
2022-05-26
Description:
© The Author(s), 2013. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Marine Mammal Science 30 (2014): 864–887, doi:10.1111/mms.12093.
Description:
The current paucity of published blood values and other clinically relevant data for short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, hinders the ability of veterinarians and responders to make well-informed diagnoses and disposition decisions regarding live strandings of this species. This study examined hematologic, clinical chemistry, and physical parameters from 26 stranded common dolphins on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in light of their postrelease survival data to evaluate each parameter's efficacy as a prognostic indicator. Statistically and clinically significant differences were found between failed and survived dolphins, including lower hematocrit, hemoglobin, TCO2, and bicarbonate and higher blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, and length-to-girth ratios in animals that failed. In general when compared to survivors, failed dolphins exhibited acidosis, dehydration, lower PCVs, and decreased body condition. Additionally, failed dolphins had the highest ALT, AST, CK, LDH, GGT, and lactate values. These blood values combined with necropsy findings indicate that there are likely a variety of factors affecting postrelease survival, including both preexisting illness and stranding-induced conditions such as capture myopathy. Closer evaluation of these parameters for stranded common dolphins on point of care analyzers in the field may allow stranding personnel to make better disposition decisions in the future.
Description:
The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue
Assistance Program provided support for stranding response efforts during this study period
(Grants: NA11NMF4390078, NA11NMF4390079, NA11NMF4390093). We would like to
thank the Pegasus Foundation and Barbara Birdsey for their support and funding for the
IFAW Satellite Tag Program. This project would not have been possible without a summer
research grant from the US Army Medical Research and Material Command through Tufts
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (TCSVM).
Keywords:
Dolphin
;
Delphinus
;
Stranding
;
Release
;
Satellite tag
;
Hematology
;
Clinical chemistry
;
Morphometrics
;
Capture myopathy
;
Disease
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Article
Format:
application/pdf
Format:
application/msword
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