Evaluation of hematologic and biochemical values for convalescing seals from the coast of Maine.

Marine mammal researchers and veterinarians evaluate the health of individuals and populations by using observed ranges for blood values. The goal of this study was to establish observed ranges for dependent (0-4 week) and weanling (>4 week) harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups that were admitted for rehabilitation at the Marine Animal Lifeline in Portland, Maine from 1998-2003 and to record changes in hematologic and biochemical values as they convalesced. Blood values, measured both at admission to and release from rehabilitation, were quantitatively compared between these two groups. Of the 29 blood analytes measured in this study between dependent and weanling pups upon admission to rehabilitation, 14 were significantly different including white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes, potassium, chloride, CO2, total bilirubin, calcium, alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase. Between admission and release, 14 analytes had significantly changed for dependent pups including RBC, Hb, HCT, mean cell volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes, potassium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and ALT. Between admission and release, 10 analytes had significantly changed for weanlings including RBC, MCV, neutrophils, eosinophils, potassium, chloride, anion gap, total protein, total bilirubin, and calcium. At the time of release, six parameters were significantly different between pups admitted as dependent and those admitted as weanlings including MCV, neutrophils, eosinophils, total protein, globulin, and albumin.

Imaging diagnosis--infiltrative lipoma causing spinal cord compression in a dog.

An 11-year-old, 43 kg neutered female Labrador retriever dog developed acute pelvic limb paraparesis. In magnetic resonance images there was a T1- and T2-hyperintense extradural at the fifth thoracic intervertebral space that was causing marked compression of the spinal cord. In short tau inversion recovery and fat suppressed T1-weighted images the signal from the mass was decreased indicating it was of fatty origin. The mass was removed via a dorsal hemilaminectomy in the thoracic area. Histopathologic analysis confirmed the mass was an infiltrative lipoma. The dog recovered and is fully ambulatory 24 months after surgery. This report provides additional evidence that lipomas in the vertebral canal may be the source of pelvic limb neuropathy and also illustrates the value of magnetic resonance imaging in establishing the fatty nature of some soft tissue masses.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF MOLECULAR VARIANCE WITHIN THE BLUE MARLIN (MAKAIRA NIGRICANS): A HIERARCHICAL ANALYSIS OF ALLOZYME, SINGLE-COPY NUCLEAR DNA, AND MITOCHONDRIAL DNA MARKERS.

This study presents a comparative hierarchical analysis of variance applied to three classes of molecular markers within the blue marlin (Makaira nigricans). Results are reported from analyses of four polymorphic allozyme loci, four polymorphic anonymously chosen single-copy nuclear DNA (scnDNA) loci, and previously reported restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Samples were collected within and among the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans over a period of several years. Although moderate levels of genetic variation were detected at both polymorphic allozyme (H = 0.30) and scnDNA loci (H = 0.37), mtDNA markers were much more diverse (h = 0.85). Allele frequencies were significantly different between Atlantic and Pacific Ocean samples at three of four allozyme loci and three of four scnDNA loci. Estimates of allozyme genetic differentiation (θO ) ranged from 0.00 to 0.15, with a mean of 0.08. The θO values for scnDNA loci were similar to those of allozymes, ranging from 0.00 to 0.12 with a mean of 0.09. MtDNA RFLP divergence between oceans (θO = 0.39) was significantly greater than divergence detected at nuclear loci (95% nuclear confidence interval = 0.04-0.11). The fourfold smaller effective population size of mtDNA and male-mediated gene flow may account for the difference observed between nuclear and mitochondrial divergence estimates.