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 nutriti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-021-00598-8 |
| _version_ | 1818661616558800896 |
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| author | Morten Tryland Christian Lydersen Kit Maureen Kovacs Espen Rafter Stein Istre Thoresen |
| author_facet | Morten Tryland Christian Lydersen Kit Maureen Kovacs Espen Rafter Stein Istre Thoresen |
| author_sort | Morten Tryland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T04:47:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99663401d143438299d0a9da0fbb2445 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T04:47:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj.art-99663401d143438299d0a9da0fbb24452022-12-21T22:03:00ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472021-08-016311710.1186/s13028-021-00598-8Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, NorwayMorten Tryland0Christian Lydersen1Kit Maureen Kovacs2Espen Rafter3Stein Istre Thoresen4Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayNorwegian Polar Institute, Fram CentreNorwegian Polar Institute, Fram CentrePolariaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life SciencesAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-021-00598-8ArcticClinical pathologyEnvironmental monitoringErignathus barbatusHaematologyMarine mammal |
| spellingShingle | Morten Tryland Christian Lydersen Kit Maureen Kovacs Espen Rafter Stein Istre Thoresen Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Arctic Clinical pathology Environmental monitoring Erignathus barbatus Haematology Marine mammal |
| title | Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway |
| title_full | Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway |
| title_fullStr | Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway |
| title_short | Serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) from Svalbard, Norway |
| title_sort | serum biochemistry and haematology in wild and captive bearded seals erignathus barbatus from svalbard norway |
| topic | Arctic Clinical pathology Environmental monitoring Erignathus barbatus Haematology Marine mammal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-021-00598-8 |
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