Clinical biochemistry of rescued Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus): serum or heparinized plasma?

ABSTRACT In the last few years, an increasing number of debilitated Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) has been rescued and taken to rehabilitation centers on Brazil’s southern coast to be clinically treated and evaluated for re-introduction. This work aims to compare the viability of heparinized plasma with the viability of serum for biochemistry analyses under rehabilitation conditions. Blood sampled from 31 physically healthy rescued penguins was processed into serum/plasma-paired samples and analyzed for 12 biochemical parameters: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol (CHOL), creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), glucose, (GLU) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total proteins (TP), triglycerides (TG), urea (UR), and uric acid (UA).The results showed that six paired samples presented visual signs of hemolysis (visual hemolytic score≥1), four of which occurred exclusively in the serum counterpart. Significant differences (P≤ 0.5) between sample types were found for CHOL (3%), GLU (6%) and TG (52%). Only TG was considered clinically relevant (>10%). All mean/median results fell within the available reference intervals by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Penguin, 2014). In conclusion, we verified that heparinized plasma is a viable sample for the clinical biochemistry of rescued Magellanic penguins as it yields compatible results with serum, while providing practical benefits. The adoption of this practice favors a faster bird recovery, by minimizing blood sampling volume, and optimizes material resources, allowing use of the same collector tube as for hematology.

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Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in Spheniscus magellanicus (Foster, 1781) located in Pontal do Sul, PR, Brazil

Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/1678-4162-9335 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 491-496

Author(s):

M.S. Vanhoni ◽

G.M. Arná ◽

L.K. Sprenger ◽

D.L. Vieira ◽

L.W. Luis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

High Rate ◽

Infected Bird ◽

Brazilian Coast ◽

Marine Animals ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Control Programs ◽

Magellanic Penguins ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

South Of Brazil

ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal parasitism is the main health problem faced by Spheniscus magellanicus, known as Magellanic penguins, in route on the Brazilian coast. The aim of this research was to report the occurrence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in S. magellanicus that reached Pontal do Sul, Paraná, South of Brazil. The study was performed at the Marine Study Center of the Federal University of Parana (CEM-UFPR) with 38 specimens, 31 were necropsied and seven were examined alive with coproparasitological exams. From the necropsied animals, 93.5% (29/31) were parasitized with at least one parasite species. Contracaecum pelagicum was the most prevalent 93,5% (29/31) parasite, followed by Cardiocephaloides physalis (64.5%) and Tetrabothrius lutzi (51.6%). Only one animal was free of parasites and the most infected bird had 1.076 parasites with an average of 194 worms. Willis-Mollay method revealed that 57.1% (4/7) had C. pelagicum eggs. In conclusion, the high rate of gastrointestinal parasites in S. magellanicus confirms the clinical exams, when animals had poor health conditions when they were found in the cost of Paraná. This study provides data to enrich the literature regarding the helminth fauna of the Magellanic penguins, assisting sanitary control programs in Rehabilitation Centers for Marine Animals.

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Clinical, hematological, total plasma protein and fibrinogen parameters of magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) pre- and post-rehabilitation

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2014001300009 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. 43-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Angela M. Coraiola ◽

Cristiane K.M. Kolesnikovas ◽

Ricardo Krul ◽

Paulo R. Mangini ◽

Rosangela Locatelli-Dittrich

Keyword(s):

Plasma Protein ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

The Body ◽

Total Plasma ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

Total Plasma Protein ◽

Condition Score ◽

Two Parameters

Abstract: Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) usually arrive in poor body conditions at Brazilian beaches during the winter. Hematology provides valuable information about clinical and immunity status of the animals. The aims of this study were to determine the hematologic, total plasma protein (TPP) and fibrinogen profiles of young and adult magellanic penguins in PROAMAR and CETAS-SC, relating these results with the state of health and survival possibility of the animals. In Paraná 14 animals were evaluated in pre and eight in post-rehabilitation and 29 animals were evaluated in Santa Catarina after rehabilitation. Before rehabilitation, all animals showed weakness. In hematological exams of these animals, we found that anemia was present in 83% of the penguins that died and 50% of those which survived. The heterophils/lymphocytes (H/L) ratio was 3.87±0.57 in animals that died, significantly higher than the average of 2.20±0.30 for animals that survived. These two parameters are useful to assess the survival possibility of animals to rehabilitation. The body condition score was positively correlated with hematocrit and TPP, and negatively correlated with H/L ratio. After rehabilitation, the values were similar to other animals of the family Spheniscidae, with averages ranging from 1.64 to 1.90x106 erythrocytes/μL; 43.38 to 48.80% of hematocrit; 12.45 to 13.52g/dL of hemoglobin; 8,684 to 14,011 leukocytes/μL; 4,767 to 8,041 heterophils/μL; 3,215 to 4,951 lymphocytes/μL; 95 to 655 eosinophils/μl; 179.8 to 277.9 monocytes/μL; 141 to 184.9 basophils/μL; and 1.26 to 1.74 of H/L ratio. These parameters can therefore be used as reference values and release parameters for young and adult Magellanic penguins in captivity on the rehabilitation centers.

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Comparison of Hematological and Biochemical Results Derived from Arterial and Venous Blood Samples in Post-Anesthetic Dogs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10112069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2069

Author(s):

Song Mi Lee ◽

Byung-Jae Kang ◽

Sungin Lee ◽

Wan Hee Kim

Keyword(s):

Total Error ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Gamma Glutamyl ◽

Paired Samples ◽

Arterial Blood ◽

Venous Sample ◽

Biochemical Testing ◽

Glutamyl Transpeptidase

Collecting blood from an indwelling arterial catheter may reduce stress from repeated venipuncture in patients requiring serial monitoring, but the use of arterial blood for hematological and biochemical testing remains understudied. Here, we compared hematological and biochemical results of arterial and venous blood and evaluated their clinical interchangeability. Blood samples from dogs who had recovered from anesthesia, collected by both arterial catheterization and venipuncture, were analyzed. To assess clinical acceptance between paired samples, the limit of agreement between the values derived from the arterial and venous blood samples was compared with the allowable total error (TEa) recommended for each parameter. We found no significant differences between the arterial and venous sample results for red/white blood cell and platelet counts and hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen, phosphate, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin, sodium, potassium, and chloride levels, whereas hemoglobin, glucose, creatinine, and calcium levels differed significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, only gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and potassium exceeded the recommended TEa. Hematological and biochemical results derived from venous and arterial blood samples are clinically interchangeable in post-anesthetic dogs, with the exception of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and potassium; thus, these values should be used with caution.

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Relationship Between Gamma-glutamyl Transpeptidase Activity and Inflammatory Response in Lichen Planus

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.3.6189 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 739-743 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Madalina Irina Mitran ◽

Ilinca Nicolae ◽

Corina Daniela Ene ◽

Cristina Iulia Mitran ◽

Clara Matei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Response ◽

Lichen Planus ◽

Inflammatory Process ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Functional Adaptation ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Inflammatory Disorder ◽

Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase ◽

Gamma Glutamyl ◽

Glutamyl Transpeptidase

Chemicals used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers have been associated with undesirable side effects such as itching or skin lesions and it seems that they are involved in the induction of pathological processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation. Lichen planus (LP) can be regarded as an inflammatory disorder, chemical and physical factors playing an important role in the perpetuation of the inflammatory process. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) plays an important role in the preservation of skin architecture and modulation of skin inflammation. In this study, we found that GGT activity is increased in LP patients with mild inflammation, whilst GGT is inactivated under conditions of severe inflammation. Therefore, GGT is involved in the inflammatory process, but there is no a positive correlation between its activity and the intensity of the inflammatory response. This functional adaptation of the enzyme may be due to down-regulation of its synthesis under free radical overload conditions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of intracellular redox homeostasis is an important step in the pharmacological management of patients with LP.

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