Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway

Abstract

Background Health assessment of seals in captivity include haematology and serum biochemistry measurements. Because such parameters differ between species, it is crucial to have species-specific reference values for the interpretation of clinical samples. Furthermore, differences in nutrition and environment, life cycles as well as seasonal/annual cycles and varying physiological conditions can potentially affect serum chemistry and haematology parameters. Blood samples from four captive adult bearded seals (initially caught as pups in Svalbard, Norway, now held at Polaria, an Arctic experience centre in Tromsø, Norway) collected over a 16-month period were analysed for haematology (n = 22) and serum chemistry (n = 25) parameters. Serum chemistry analyses were also conducted on blood samples from 74 wild bearded seals (1995–2007) collected from Svalbard, Norway. Results We found higher activity of creatine kinase (CK) and higher concentrations of cortisol in the wild animals when compared to the captive seals, probably reflecting the physical restraint and concomitant stress induced during sampling. For the captive bearded seals, we did not find marked differences in haematology or serum chemistry parameters throughout the different seasons of sampling. Conclusions This study presents haematology and serum chemistry reference values for captive and wild bearded seals. Comparing physiological parameters for captive seals with wild seals indicated that having wild-caught bearded seals under the conditions offered at Polaria for several years did not markedly affect physiological parameters of the animals, and that training may have helped to alleviate stress associated with blood sampling and veterinary inspection.

Large and in charge: cortisol levels vary with sex, diet, and body mass in an Antarctic predator, the leopard seal

“…Further, large female leopard seals exclude males and less dominate females from these nutrient rich resources (Krause et al, 2015;Krause and Rogers, 2019). These large female leopard seals are so successful at predating on pups that they are driving the decline of REFERENCES: (Liggins et al, 1993) 1 ; this study 2 ; (Tryland et al, 2012) 3 , (Shero et al, 2015) 4 ; (Hogg and Rogers, 2009) 5 ; (Bartsh et al, 1992) 6 ; (Engelhard et al, 2002) 7 ; (Ferreira et al, 2005) 8 ; (Verrier et al, 2012) 9 ; (Guinet et al, 2004) 10 ; (Tryland et al, 2006) 11 ; (Rainer Engelhardt, 1982) 12 ; (Engelhardt and Ferguson, 1980) 13 ; (Nordøy et al, 1993) 14 ; (Tryland et al, 2009) 15 ; (Tryland et al, 2021) 16 ; (Champagne et al, 2005) 17 ; (Ensminger et al, 2014) 18 ; (Crocker et al, 2012) 19 ; (Lidgard et al, 2008) 20 ; (Bennett et al, 2012) 21 ; (Nordøy et al, 1990) 22 ; (Gardiner and Hall, 1997) 23 ; (Gulland et al, 1999) (Haave et al, 2003) 34 ; (Chow, 2013) 35 ; (Macbeth et al, 2010) 36 ; (Brannon, 1985) 37 ; (Harlow et al, 1990) 38 ; (Larson et al, 2009) 39 ; (George et al, 2014) 40 ; (Boonstra et al, 2018) 41 . Species mean cortisol concentrations represent the combined cortisol average from each referenced study.…”

Correction to: Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway

“…Following the publication of the original article [ 1 ], we were notified of erroneously presented units for red and white blood cells in Table 2 and missing unit for Total T4 in Table 3.…”

A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Health—A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change

“…Baseline serologic data could provide documentation of the presence or absence of disease as well as allowing for the monitoring of increases or decreases in disease exposure or prevalence. Biological health assessment data such as serum biochemistry have been published for several AMMS, providing baseline data for “normal” values for these species [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Other biomarkers such as haptoglobin and cortisol have also been measured in ringed seals ( Pusa hispida ), narwhals ( Monodon monoceros ), and white whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) [ 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”