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Felipo-Benavent M, O'Connor JE, Álvaro-Álvarez T, Valls-Torres M, Rojo C, García-Párraga D, Martínez-Romero A, Rubio-Guerri C. Monitoring platelet function in marine mammals: Intracellular Ca 2+ mobilization as a biomarker of platelet activation. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 150:105080. [PMID: 37844676 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.105080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Platelet functionality plays a crucial role in marine mammals. Alterations in platelet function can result from stress, pathologies, or exposure to xenobiotics, among others. The early detection of platelet function abnormalities is essential in these species to prevent advanced pathology and mitigate potential risks. Our main objective was to establish a range of physiological values of platelet function in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), sea lions (Otaria flavescens) and walruses (Odobenus rosmarus). Intraplatelet Ca2+ mobilization using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as a platelet agonist was used as a platelet function biomarker, adapting the methodology previously described by us in dolphins (Felipo-Benavent et al., 2022) to the rest of the species. The assay was also adapted to a seal (Phoca vitulina). Numerical indicators of intraplatelet Ca2+ mobilization kinetics were established, and statistical analyses were performed to compare the effects of species, sex, age, aquarium and species. Significant differences were observed between species, being the platelets of the sea lions the more reactive to the agonist. This work demonstrates the usefulness of this assay in the diagnosis or monitoring of animals with hemostatic diseases, showing two clinical cases in which intraplatelet calcium mobilization values were altered in marine mammals suffering haemorrhages. This assay may also serve as a means to monitor environmental changes and their potential impact on the health of marine mammal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Felipo-Benavent
- Laboratory of Cytomics, Joint Research Unit CIPF-UVEG, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Alfara del Patriarca, 46113, Valencia, Spain
| | - José-Enrique O'Connor
- Laboratory of Cytomics, Joint Research Unit CIPF-UVEG, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Álvaro-Álvarez
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Valls-Torres
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Rojo
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013, Valencia, Spain; Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alicia Martínez-Romero
- Cytomics Technological Service, Príncipe Felipe Research Center, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Consuelo Rubio-Guerri
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013, Valencia, Spain; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain.
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Houser DS, Champagne CD, Wasser SK, Booth RK, Romano T, Crocker DE. Influence of season, age, sex, and time of day on the endocrine profile of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 313:113889. [PMID: 34425086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding baseline hormone levels, the magnitude of intra-individual variability, and their variation as a function of life history is difficult in toothed whales (e.g. dolphins and porpoises) because of the effects of capture stress. To determine the endocrine profile of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as a function of season, time of day (TOD), age, sex, and reproductive status, blood corticosteroids, thyroid hormones, and catecholamines were repeatedly measured in a managed-care population exposed to ambient light and water temperatures of San Diego Bay. Additionally, fecal hormone metabolites were assessed for cortisol, aldosterone, and triiodothyronine. Samples were collected at two to four-week intervals over a period of two years, and multiple times within a day at monthly intervals over a year. Samples were collected through the voluntary participation of the dolphins in the blood draws and fecal collections in order to avoid the effects of handling stress. All serum hormones except aldosterone significantly varied with season and all serum hormones except total thyroxine significantly varied as a function of TOD. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites significantly correlated with circulating cortisol levels, and there was a significant seasonal effect on triiodothyronine fecal metabolites. Strong seasonal effects demonstrated complex interactions with age and sex suggesting that contextual information is critical to interpreting differences in endocrine profiles. Strong circadian patterns further suggest that sampling design is important to the interpretation of blood or fecal collections, particularly since diurnal changes in some serum hormone levels are similar to the magnitude of seasonal differences. Despite potential impacts of feeding schedules on diurnal patterns, managed care populations can provide important insights into seasonal and age-related endocrine changes in toothed whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.
| | - C D Champagne
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - S K Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - R K Booth
- Center for Conservation Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - T Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
| | - D E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA
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Barratclough A, Gomez FM, Morey JS, Meegan JM, Parry C, Schwacke L, Jensen ED, Smith CR. Biochemical and hematological biomarkers of reproductive failure in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2021; 144:197-208. [PMID: 34042067 DOI: 10.3354/dao03591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The physiological demands of pregnancy inevitably result in alterations in both biochemical and hematological parameters as fetal development occurs. The shifts observed in successful pregnancy in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to support both fetal physiological needs and maternal basal requirements have been established according to each trimester. Detecting aberrations in blood-based biomarkers could help facilitate diagnosis of gestational abnormalities, improve our understanding of factors influencing reproductive outcomes and aid in prediction of reproductive failure. This study retrospectively analyzed 263 blood samples from 15 bottlenose dolphins in 21 failed pregnancies over 28 yr (1989-2017). Most samples remained within normal pregnancy reference ranges; however, significant shifts were observed between trimesters. Hematological alterations, compared to successful pregnancy reference ranges from previously published data, were consistent across failed pregnancies and included an increased prevalence of elevated 2nd and 3rd trimester neutrophils, elevated 2nd trimester monocytes and decreased 3rd trimester eosinophils. In addition, low hematocrit and low red blood cells were more prevalent in the 2nd trimester. Biochemical shifts included an increased prevalence of elevated creatine phosphokinase in the 3rd trimester outside of the normal reference ranges. Across failed pregnancies, calcium and iron were decreased in the 3rd trimester. Significantly decreased progesterone in the 3rd trimester was a negative prognostic indicator of pregnancy outcome with decreasing 3rd trimester progesterone associated with failed pregnancy. This study demonstrates the use of blood-based biomarkers as possible predictors of pregnancy outcome in bottlenose dolphins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Barratclough
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
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Siebert U, Blanchet MA, Teilmann J, Anderson Hansen K, Kristensen J, Bunskoek P, Dietz R, Desforges JP, Sonne C, Desportes G. Haematology and clinical blood chemistry in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the inner Danish waters. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105937. [PMID: 32673908 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Baltic Sea are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities, which affect the overall health of populations. Individuals' haematologic and biochemistry parameters are known to be linked to a population's health status and are therefore useful tools for cross-population comparisons and to assess health patterns of a population through time. However, it is often difficult to acquire data representing the full range of values and assess the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here, we present the range of haematology and blood chemistry values obtained from 46 wild (n = 54 blood samples) individuals incidentally caught in pound-nets and five porpoises in long-term human care (n = 449 blood samples) from an outdoor semi-open facility in Denmark. Although it was not possible to formally test the differences between samples from free-ranging and captive individuals, lymphocyte values were lower for free-ranging animals whereas eosinophils and white blood cell values were higher in captive individuals. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanin aminotransferase values were also lower for captive individuals compared to free-ranging ones. Age group did not influence any of the blood parameters tested for free-ranging individuals. Sodium values were higher for males compared to females. Values were higher and lower in the fall for platelets and lactic acid dehydrogenase, respectively, compared to the other seasons. Based on samples yielded by individuals in long-term human care, haemoglobin, mean cell volume, white blood cells, absolute lymphocyte count, and alkaline phosphatase values were all influenced by health status based on clinical examination. These are therefore candidate parameters to assess health status of wild porpoises. Our results underline that it is essential to obtain ranges of reference values for all haematologic and biochemistry markers in order to assess health status of free-ranging individuals. Individuals in human care provide the opportunity to observe biological and ecological determinates (e.g. age, season) of long-term biomarker response patterns and to assess the suite of biomarkers best suited to predict individual health status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany; Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Marie-Anne Blanchet
- Fjord and Belt, Kerteminde, Denmark; Norwegian College of Fishery Science, the Arctic University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kirstin Anderson Hansen
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany; Fjord and Belt, Kerteminde, Denmark
| | | | | | - Rune Dietz
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Geneviève Desportes
- Fjord and Belt, Kerteminde, Denmark; North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Tromsø, Norway
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Saviano P, Fiorucci L, Grande F, Macrelli R, Troisi A, Polisca A, Orlandi R. Pregnancy and Fetal Development: Cephalic Presentation and Other Descriptive Ultrasonographic Findings from Clinically Healthy Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10050908. [PMID: 32456332 PMCID: PMC7278404 DOI: 10.3390/ani10050908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ultrasound data are vital for monitoring and detecting problems in pregnancies, and although there is a significant amount of data for domestic species, data for marine mammals are scarce. In domestic species, the use of ultrasonography to monitor a pregnancy usually has the following aims: fetal movements, fetal heart rates, measurements of the skull and the thorax for the prediction of the birth date interval, the morphological aspects of the fetal organs, the appearance of the umbilical cord, and the placentation. The purpose of this study is to provide to the clinician additional relevant data on fetal development and well-being during a dolphin pregnancy that may also be useful for wild population monitoring. This study is the result of a retrospective analysis of 192 ultrasound scans over 10 years that, for the first time, describes the sonographic findings of the bottlenose dolphin organogenesis and their correlation with the stage of pregnancy, as well as the calf presentation at birth, according to its position within the uterus, and moreover a complete literature review. Abstract Ultrasonography is widely used in veterinary medicine for the diagnosis of pregnancy, and can also be used to monitor abnormal pregnancies, embryonic resorption, or fetal abortion. Ultrasonography plays an important role in modern-day cetacean preventative medicine because it is a non-invasive technique, it is safe for both patient and operator, and it can be performed routinely using trained responses that enable medical procedures. Reproductive success is an important aspect of dolphin population health, as it is an indicator of the future trajectory of the population. The aim of this study is to provide additional relevant data on feto-maternal ultrasonographic monitoring in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) species, for both the clinicians and for in situ population studies. From 2009 to 2019, serial ultrasonographic exams of 11 healthy bottlenose dolphin females kept under human care were evaluated over the course of 16 pregnancies. A total of 192 ultrasound exams were included in the study. For the first time, the sonographic findings of the bottlenose dolphin organogenesis and their correlation with the stage of pregnancy are described. Furthermore, this is the first report that forecasts the cephalic presentation of the calf at birth, according to its position within the uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Saviano
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Saviano-Larocca, 41042 Spezzano, Italy; (P.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Letizia Fiorucci
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, 35416 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Grande
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Saviano-Larocca, 41042 Spezzano, Italy; (P.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Roberto Macrelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate, Università di Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Camerino, 62024 Matelica, Italy;
| | - Angela Polisca
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy;
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