Dear MARMAMers,
My co-authors and I are pleased to
announce the publication of a new paper about serum chemistry values of 107
wild-caught Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) published in Marine
Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/mms.12765
Abstract: Blood values of wild cetacean
population are a valuable tool to drive proper management of threatened
species. Reference intervals of 26 serum analytes were determined from 107
apparently healthy Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) wild‐caught
in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (3°3′S, 64°51′W), central
Amazon, Brazil. No differences were detected between males and females or
between pregnant and nonpregnant females. Calves had higher serum calcium than
juveniles and adults, and alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in calves
and juveniles than adults as a result of bone growth. Adults showed higher
creatinine levels than juveniles due to higher body mass, and higher urea than
calves. Positive correlation was found between body length and body weight with
creatinine, urea, and alanine aminotransferase activity; whereas calcium and
alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase (CK) activities negatively correlated
with these body parameters. Cardiac rate and respiratory frequency appear to
have not correlated with any serum analyte, while stress level positively
correlated with CK. Storage of frozen samples for 60 days at −80°C
significantly altered 10 of the 19 analytes after one freeze–thaw cycle.
Important differences were detected among age classes, stress level, and sample
storage and should be taken into account before any clinical or physiological
interpretations.
Thank you and kind regards,
Daniela Mello.
--
Daniela M. D. de Mello, PhD
Aquatic Mammals Laboratory
National Institute of Amazonian Research,
Brazil
Phone: +55(11) 996041122