Clinical Biochemistry in Healthy Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris)

Abstract

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are endangered aquatic mammals living in coastal and riverine waterways of Florida and adjacent states. Serum or plasma biochemical analyses are important tools in evaluating the health of free-ranging and captive manatees. The purpose of this study was to measure diagnostically important analytes in the plasma of healthy manatees and to determine whether there was significant variation with respect to location (free-ranging versus captive), age class (small calves, large calves, subadults, adults), and gender. No significant differences in plasma sodium, potassium, bilirubin, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, or creatine kinase were found among these classes of animals. Compared to free-ranging manatees, captive animals had significantly lower mean concentrations of plasma chloride, phosphate, magnesium, triglycerides, anion gap, and lactate. Captive manatees had significantly higher mean values of total CO2, calcium, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, total protein, albumin, and albumin/globulin ratio than did free-ranging animals. Differences in the environments of these two groups, including diet, temperature, salinity, and stress, might account for some of these results. The higher plasma lactate and anion gap concentrations and lower total CO2 concentrations of free-ranging manatees were probably due to greater exertion during capture, but the lack of elevated plasma creatine kinase activity relative to captive animals indicates that there was no serious muscle injury associated with capture. Plasma phosphate decreased and total globulins increased with age. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were highest in small calves. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase was higher in large calves than in adults and subadults, and the albumin/ globulin ratio was higher in subadults than in adults. Plasma total CO2 was higher and chloride was slightly lower in females than in males.

Blood Chemistry of Antillean Manatees (<I>Trichechus manatus manatus</I>): Age Variations

“…Although Harvey et al (2007) measured serum chemistry analytes in plasma, their results corroborate with the ones of the present study: total globulins increase while phosphates decrease with age, and AST levels were higher in calves than in adults. Our study is the first to report serum chemistry values for T. m. manatus in Brazil, representing an important contribution for a better understanding of the importance of marine mammals' clinical laboratory medicine to Rehabilitation Centers such as CMA/ICMBio, especially the ones which held the animals under their care for long periods.…”

“…Recently, Silva et al (2007) reported serum chemistry values for captive Antillean manatee adults, not verifying differences between genders. Further studies performed by Harvey et al (2007) evaluated the effects location (free-ranging vs captive), age class (small calves, large calves, subadults, adults), and sex exert on blood parameters, verifying differences in blood exams of captive animals, suggesting that factors such as diet, stress, and temperature might account for some of these results.…”

“…The methods of routine management procedures can affect some blood chemistry analytes in both freeranging and captive West Indian manatees (Irvine et al, 1980). Harvey et al (2007) collected important data regarding variations in blood values with respect to location, age class, and sex on plasma of healthy Florida manatees. Although some reports describe the variations due to changes in management procedures (Maniré et al, 2003), there are very few studies carried out on captive manatees addressing the importance of environment and physiological factors.…”

Health Assessment and Seroepidemiologic Survey of Potential Pathogens in Wild Antillean Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus)

“…Plasma biochemistry profiles conducted at UFPL were performed on a Hitachi 911™ Chemistry Analyzer (Boerhinger Mannheim/Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) using reagents and technique described elsewhere [27]. The biochemistry profile included the following blood analytes: glucose; blood urea nitrogen (BUN); creatinine; alkaline phosphatase (ALP); gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT); cholesterol; total protein (TP); albumin (ALB); potassium; magnesium; chloride; sodium; calcium; phosphorous; total bilirubin; direct bilirubin; amylase; lipase; lactate dehydrogenase; creatinine kinase phosphokinase; serum amyloid A; and iron.…”

Disseminated toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii in a wild Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris and seroprevalence in two wild populations

“…All manatees appeared clinically healthy based on physical examination and fat measurements. Complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry were mostly unremarkable based on previously established reference intervals for hematology and chemistry analytes in Florida manatees (Harvey et al 2007(Harvey et al , 2009). Prior to testing, samples collected from years 2011, 2012, and January 2013 were kept frozen at −80°C.…”