Pediatric Lyme disease: systematic assessment of post-treatment symptoms and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is common among children and adolescents. Antibiotic treatment is effective, yet some patients report persistent symptoms following treatment, with or without functional impairment. This study characterized long-term outcome of pediatric patients with Lyme disease and evaluated the case definition of post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) syndrome. METHODS: The sample included 102 children with confirmed Lyme disease diagnosed 6 months-10 years prior to enrollment (M = 2.0 years). Lyme diagnosis and treatment information was extracted from the electronic health record; parent report identified presence, duration, and impact of symptoms after treatment. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing health-related quality of life, physical mobility, fatigue, pain, and cognitive impact. RESULTS: Most parents reported their child's symptoms resolved completely, although time to full resolution varied. Twenty-two parents (22%) indicated their child had at least one persistent symptom >6 months post-treatment, 13 without functional impairment (PTLD symptoms) and 9 with functional impairment (PTLD syndrome). Children with PTLD syndrome had lower parent-reported Physical Summary scores and greater likelihood of elevated fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, most children with Lyme disease experienced full resolution of symptoms, including those who initially met PTLD syndrome criteria. Effective communication about recovery rates and common symptoms that may persist post-treatment is needed. IMPACT: The majority of pediatric patients treated for all stages of Lyme disease reported full resolution of symptoms within 6 months. 22% of pediatric patients reported one or more symptom persisting >6 months, 9% with and 13% without accompanying functional impairment. Effective communication with families about recovery rates and common symptoms that may persist post-treatment of Lyme disease is needed.

Automatic brain segmentation in preterm infants with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus using 3D Bayesian U-Net.

Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a severe complication of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very preterm infants. PHH monitoring and treatment decisions rely heavily on manual and subjective two-dimensional measurements of the ventricles. Automatic and reliable three-dimensional (3D) measurements of the ventricles may provide a more accurate assessment of PHH, and lead to improved monitoring and treatment decisions. To accurately and efficiently obtain these 3D measurements, automatic segmentation of the ventricles can be explored. However, this segmentation is challenging due to the large ventricular anatomical shape variability in preterm infants diagnosed with PHH. This study aims to (a) propose a Bayesian U-Net method using 3D spatial concrete dropout for automatic brain segmentation (with uncertainty assessment) of preterm infants with PHH; and (b) compare the Bayesian method to three reference methods: DenseNet, U-Net, and ensemble learning using DenseNets and U-Nets. A total of 41 T2 -weighted MRIs from 27 preterm infants were manually segmented into lateral ventricles, external CSF, white and cortical gray matter, brainstem, and cerebellum. These segmentations were used as ground truth for model evaluation. All methods were trained and evaluated using 4-fold cross-validation and segmentation endpoints, with additional uncertainty endpoints for the Bayesian method. In the lateral ventricles, segmentation endpoint values for the DenseNet, U-Net, ensemble learning, and Bayesian U-Net methods were mean Dice score = 0.814 ± 0.213, 0.944 ± 0.041, 0.942 ± 0.042, and 0.948 ± 0.034 respectively. Uncertainty endpoint values for the Bayesian U-Net were mean recall = 0.953 ± 0.037, mean  negative predictive value = 0.998 ± 0.005, mean accuracy = 0.906 ± 0.032, and mean AUC = 0.949 ± 0.031. To conclude, the Bayesian U-Net showed the best segmentation results across all methods and provided accurate uncertainty maps. This method may be used in clinical practice for automatic brain segmentation of preterm infants with PHH, and lead to better PHH monitoring and more informed treatment decisions.

Surveillance for Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli in the Salish Sea Ecosystem.

E. coli was isolated from the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) ecosystem, including samples of marine and fresh water, and wildlife dependent on this environment. E. coli isolates were assessed for phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotics. A total of 305 E. coli isolates was characterized from samples collected from: marine water obtained in four quadrants of the Salish Sea; select locations near beaches; fresh water from streams near marine beaches; and fecal samples from harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), river otters (Lontra canadensis), and English sole (Parophrys vetulus). Isolates were evaluated using antimicrobial susceptibility typing, whole-genome sequencing, fumC, and multilocus sequence typing. Resistance and virulence genes were identified from sequence data. Of the 305 isolates from Salish Sea samples, 20 (6.6%) of the E. coli were intermediate, and 31 (10.2%) were resistant to ≥1 class of antibiotics, with 26.9% of nonsusceptible (resistant and intermediate resistant) E. coli isolates from marine mammals and 70% from river otters. The proportion of nonsusceptible isolates from animals was significantly higher than samples taken from marine water (p < 0.0001). A total of 196 unique STs was identified including 37 extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC)-associated STs [ST10, ST38, ST58, ST69, ST73, ST117, ST131, and ST405]. The study suggests that animals may be potential sentinels for antibiotic-resistant and ExPEC E. coli in the Salish Sea ecosystem.

Epizootiology of a Cryptococcus gattii outbreak in porpoises and dolphins from the Salish Sea.

Cryptococcus gattii is a fungal pathogen that primarily affects the respiratory and nervous systems of humans and other animals. C. gattii emerged in temperate North America in 1999 as a multispecies outbreak of cryptococcosis in British Columbia (Canada) and Washington State and Oregon (USA), affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Here we describe the C. gattii epizootic in odontocetes. Cases of C. gattii were identified in 42 odontocetes in Washington and British Columbia between 1997 and 2016. Species affected included harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena (n = 26), Dall's porpoises Phocoenoides dalli (n = 14), and Pacific white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus obliquidens (n = 2). The probable index case was identified in an adult male Dall's porpoise in 1997, 2 yr prior to the initial terrestrial outbreak. The spatiotemporal extent of the C. gattii epizootic was defined, and cases in odontocetes were found to be clustered around terrestrial C. gattii hotspots. Case-control analyses with stranded, uninfected odontocetes revealed that risk factors for infection were species (Dall's porpoises), age class (adult animals), and season (winter). This study suggests that mycoses are an emerging source of mortality for odontocetes, and that outbreaks may be associated with anthropogenic environmental disturbance.

Health Reporting Characteristics among Journalists in Nepal Utilizing a One Health Framework.

Journalists play a crucial role in the dissemination of health-related information. In developing countries, such as Nepal, the media are integral in shaping the national agenda and informing the public of important health issues. With an increasing need for a collaborative effort to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment, the One Health approach was used to characterize health reporting in Nepal. A comprehensive survey was administered to health journalists regarding their public, animal, and environmental health reporting habits. Seventy-one journalists completed the survey across three study sites. Many journalists indicated a history of reporting across all three sectors but did not routinely focus on health reporting in general. The majority of journalists perceived the quality and overall coverage of health-related topics increased over the last five years. However, few journalists reported receiving specialized training in any health sector. Although the overall quality of health reporting in the Nepali media showed improvements, many journalists acknowledged a lack of understanding of common health topics and a desire to learn more skills related to accurate health reporting. One Health provides a conceptual framework for understanding and promoting health communication through mass media to benefit humans, animals, and ecosystems.

Site-Specific Load-Induced Expansion of Sca-1+Prrx1+ and Sca-1-Prrx1+ Cells in Adult Mouse Long Bone Is Attenuated With Age.

Aging is associated with significant bone loss and increased fracture risk, which has been attributed to a diminished response to anabolic mechanical loading. In adults, skeletal progenitors proliferate and differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts in response to increasing mechanical stimuli, though the effects of aging on this response are not well-understood. Here we show that both adult and aged mice exhibit load-induced periosteal bone formation, though the response is significantly attenuated with age. We also show that the acute response of adult bone to loading involves expansion of Sca-1+Prrx1+ and Sca-1-Prrx1+ cells in the periosteum. On the endosteal surface, loading enhances proliferation of both these cell populations, though the response is delayed by 2 days relative to the periosteal surface. In contrast to the periosteum and endosteum, the marrow does not exhibit increased proliferation of Sca-1+Prrx1+ cells, but only of Sca-1-Prrx1+ cells, underscoring fundamental differences in how the stem cell niche in distinct bone envelopes respond to mechanical stimuli. Notably, the proliferative response to loading is absent in aged bone even though there are similar baseline numbers of Prrx1 + cells in the periosteum and endosteum, suggesting that the proliferative capacity of progenitors is attenuated with age, and proliferation of the Sca-1+Prrx1+ population is critical for load-induced periosteal bone formation. These findings provide a basis for the development of novel therapeutics targeting these cell populations to enhance osteogenesis for overcoming age-related bone loss. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Association Between Earthquake Exposures and Mental Health Outcomes in Phulpingdanda Village After the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes.

In 2015, two strong earthquakes, as well as continuous, high magnitude aftershocks, struck Nepal. Phulpingdanda village was greatly impacted due to its lack of infrastructure and environmental remoteness. Adults from sampled households were surveyed 1-year later to examine the association between earthquake exposures and indicators of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and resilience. Results showed 33% of surveyed residents screened positive for depression, 9% screened positive for severe PTSD, and 46% displayed moderate to high resilience. Additionally, participants experienced resource loss (100%), damaged home and goods (99%), and exposure to the grotesque (82%). Traumatic earthquake experiences related to personal harm were associated with symptoms of depression and PTSD and resource loss was associated with depressive symptoms. Earthquake experiences associated with less damage to home and goods, but greater exposure to the grotesque were associated with increased resilience. This research adds to our knowledge of the relationship between traumatic exposures and indicators of psychological distress and resilience following a disaster.

Baleen whale cortisol levels reveal a physiological response to 20th century whaling.

One of the most important challenges researchers and managers confront in conservation ecology is predicting a population's response to sub-lethal stressors. Such predictions have been particularly elusive when assessing responses of large marine mammals to past anthropogenic pressures. Recently developed techniques involving baleen whale earplugs combine age estimates with cortisol measurements to assess spatial and temporal stress/stressor relationships. Here we show a relationship between baseline-corrected cortisol levels and corresponding whaling counts of fin, humpback, and blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere spanning the 20th century. We also model the impact of alternative demographic and environmental factors and determine that increased anomalies of sea surface temperature over a 46-year mean (1970-2016) were positively associated with cortisol levels. While industrial whaling can deplete populations by direct harvest, our data underscore a widespread stress response in baleen whales that is peripheral to whaling activities or associated with other anthropogenic change.

Multicentric plasmacytoma in a harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena off the coast of Whidbey Island, Washington State, USA.

Necropsy of a female adult pregnant harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena revealed a multicentric plasmacytoma. The plasmacytoma infiltrated the cranial lung lobes, mediastinal lymph nodes and the spleen. Diagnosis was based on gross, histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies. Histopathology revealed a diffuse proliferation of atypical pleomorphic neoplastic round cells with plasmacytic features. Positive immunohistochemistry with anti-CD79a and anti-CD20 antibody markers and anti-multiple myeloma oncogene 1 (MUM-1) for plasmacytoma confirmed this neoplasm to be of B-cell origin. This is the first recorded case of a plasmacytoma in a harbor porpoise. Routine viral screening was negative via standard PCR for herpesvirus and reverse transcriptase PCR for morbillivirus. Retroviral screening was not performed.

Earthquake exposures and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents from Phulpingdanda village, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Mental health issues can reach epidemic proportions in developed countries after natural disasters, but research is needed to better understand the impact on children and adolescents in developing nations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed to examine the relationship between earthquake exposures and depression, PTSD, and resilience among children and adolescents in Phulpingdanda village in Nepal, 1 year after the 2015 earthquakes, using the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, Child PTSD Symptom Scale, and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure, respectively. To quantify exposure, a basic demographic and household questionnaire, including an earthquake exposure assessment tool for children and adolescents, was created. RESULTS: Of the 62 respondents interviewed, 3.23% and 4.84% displayed symptomatology of depression and PTSD. A large number of respondents interviewed scored high for resiliency (80.65%). All 62 respondents were displaced from their household and witnessed severe damage of both their homes and village. The number of earthquake exposures had a strong, positive correlation with PTSD symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of respondents who showed signs of depression and PTSD symptomatology was lower than anticipated, resilience scores were considerably higher. Future research should explore which protective factors may contribute to high resiliency in Nepali children and adolescents.

Application of real-time quantitative PCR assays for detecting marine Brucella spp. in fish.

Brucella ceti and Brucella pinnipedialis have been documented as occurring in marine mammals, and B. ceti has been identified in 3 naturally acquired human cases. Seroconversion and infection patterns in Pacific Northwest harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii) and North Atlantic hooded seals ( Cystophora cristata) indicate post-weaning exposure through prey consumption or lungworm infection, suggesting fish and possibly invertebrates play an epizootiologic role in marine Brucella transmission and possible foodborne risk to humans. We determined if real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays can detect marine Brucella DNA in fish DNA. Insertion sequence (IS) 711 gene and sequence type (ST)27 primer-probe sets were used to detect Brucella associated with marine mammals and human zoonotic infections, respectively. First, DNA extracts from paired-species fish (containing 2 species) samples were tested and determined to be Brucella DNA negative using both IS 711 and ST27 primer-probe sets. A representative paired-species fish DNA sample was spiked with decreasing concentrations of B. pinnipedialis DNA to verify Brucella detection by the IS 711 primer-probe within fish DNA. A standard curve, developed using isolated DNA from B. pinnipedialis, determined the limit of detection. Finally, the IS 711 primer-probe was used to test Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua) DNA extracts experimentally infected with the B. pinnipedialis hooded seal strain. In culture-positive cod tissue, the IS 711 limit of detection was ~1 genome copy of Brucella. Agreement between culture and PCR results for the 9 positive and 9 negative cod tissues was 100%. Although a larger sample set is required for validation, our study shows that qPCR can detect marine Brucella in fish.

Online surveillance of media health event reporting in Nepal: digital disease detection from a One Health perspective.

BACKGROUND: Traditional media and the internet are crucial sources of health information. Media can significantly shape public opinion, knowledge and understanding of emerging and endemic health threats. As digital communication rapidly progresses, local access and dissemination of health information contribute significantly to global disease detection and reporting. METHODS: Health event reports in Nepal (October 2013-December 2014) were used to characterize Nepal's media environment from a One Health perspective using HealthMap - a global online disease surveillance and mapping tool. Event variables (location, media source type, disease or risk factor of interest, and affected species) were extracted from HealthMap. RESULTS: A total of 179 health reports were captured from various sources including newspapers, inter-government agency bulletins, individual reports, and trade websites, yielding 108 (60%) unique articles. Human health events were reported most often (n = 85; 79%), followed by animal health events (n = 23; 21%), with no reports focused solely on environmental health. CONCLUSIONS: By expanding event coverage across all of the health sectors, media in developing countries could play a crucial role in national risk communication efforts and could enhance early warning systems for disasters and disease outbreaks.

Persistent Organic Pollutant and Hormone Levels in Harbor Porpoise with B Cell Lymphoma.

B-cell lymphoma, a common morphologic variant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been associated with persistent pollutants in humans, but this association is not well-characterized in top-level predators sharing marine resources with humans. We characterized and compared blubber contaminants and hormones of a pregnant harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) with B-cell lymphoma, with those in two presumed healthy fishery by-caught porpoises with no lymphoma: a pregnant adult and female juvenile. Common historic use compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and pesticides, were evaluated in blubber samples from three porpoises. In addition, blubber cortisol and progesterone levels (ng/g) were determined in all three animals. Total pollutant concentrations were highest in the juvenile porpoise, followed by the lymphoma porpoise and the nonlymphoma adult. Blubber cortisol concentrations were 191% greater in the pregnant with lymphoma porpoise compared with the pregnant no lymphoma porpoise, and 89% greater in the juvenile female compared with the pregnant no lymphoma porpoise. Although both adults were pregnant, progesterone levels were substantially greater (90%) in the healthy compared with the lymphoma adult. Health monitoring of top-level marine predators, such as porpoise, provides a sentinel measure of contaminants that serve as indicators of potential environmental exposure to humans.

Seasonal and developmental differences in blubber stores of beluga whales in Bristol Bay, Alaska using high-resolution ultrasound.

Diving mammals use blubber for a variety of structural and physiological functions, including buoyancy, streamlining, thermoregulation, and energy storage. Estimating blubber stores provides proxies for body condition, nutritional status, and health. Blubber stores may vary topographically within individuals, across seasons, and with age, sex, and reproductive status; therefore, a single full-depth blubber biopsy does not provide an accurate measure of blubber depth, and additional biopsies are limited because they result in open wounds. We examined high-resolution ultrasound as a noninvasive method for assessing blubber stores by sampling blubber depth at 11 locations on beluga whales in Alaska. Blubber mass was estimated as a proportion of body mass (40% from the literature) and compared to a function of volume calculated using ultrasound blubber depth measurements in a truncated cone. Blubber volume was converted to total and mass-specific blubber mass estimates based on the density of beluga blubber. There was no significant difference in mean total blubber mass between the 2 estimates (R2 = 0.88); however, body mass alone predicted only 68% of the variation in mass-specific blubber stores in juveniles, 7% for adults in the fall, and 33% for adults in the spring. Mass-specific blubber stores calculated from ultrasound measurements were highly variable. Adults had significantly greater blubber stores in the fall (0.48±0.02kg/kgMB) than in the spring (0.33±0.02kg/kgMB). There was no seasonal effect in juveniles. High-resolution ultrasound is a more powerful, noninvasive method for assessing blubber stores in wild belugas, allowing for precise measurements at multiple locations.

Increased harbor porpoise mortality in the Pacific Northwest, USA: understanding when higher levels may be normal.

In 2006, a marked increase in harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena strandings were reported in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, resulting in the declaration of an unusual mortality event (UME) for Washington and Oregon to facilitate investigation into potential causes. The UME was in place during all of 2006 and 2007, and a total of 114 porpoises stranded during this period. Responders examined 95 porpoises; of these, detailed necropsies were conducted on 75 animals. Here we review the findings related to this event and how these compared to the years immediately before and after the UME. Relatively equal numbers among sexes and age classes were represented, and mortalities were attributed to a variety of specific causes, most of which were categorized as trauma or infectious disease. Continued monitoring of strandings during 4 yr following the UME showed no decrease in occurrence. The lack of a single major cause of mortality or evidence of a significant change or event, combined with high levels of strandings over several post-UME years, demonstrated that this was not an actual mortality event but was likely the result of a combination of factors, including: (1) a growing population of harbor porpoises; (2) expansion of harbor porpoises into previously sparsely populated areas in Washington's inland waters; and (3) a more well established stranding network that resulted in better reporting and response. This finding would not have been possible without the integrated response and investigation undertaken by the stranding network.

Comparison of three methods of calculating strain in the mouse ulna in exogenous loading studies.

Axial compression of mouse limbs is commonly used to induce bone formation in a controlled, non-invasive manner. Determination of peak strains caused by loading is central to interpreting results. Load-strain calibration is typically performed using uniaxial strain gauges attached to the diaphyseal, periosteal surface of a small number of sacrificed animals. Strain is measured as the limb is loaded to a range of physiological loads known to be anabolic to bone. The load-strain relationship determined by this subgroup is then extrapolated to a larger group of experimental mice. This method of strain calculation requires the challenging process of strain gauging very small bones which is subject to variability in placement of the strain gauge. We previously developed a method to estimate animal-specific periosteal strain during axial ulnar loading using an image-based computational approach that does not require strain gauges. The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship between load-induced bone formation rates and periosteal strain at ulnar midshaft using three different methods to estimate strain: (A) Nominal strain values based solely on load-strain calibration; (B) Strains calculated from load-strain calibration, but scaled for differences in mid-shaft cross-sectional geometry among animals; and (C) An alternative image-based computational method for calculating strains based on beam theory and animal-specific bone geometry. Our results show that the alternative method (C) provides comparable correlation between strain and bone formation rates in the mouse ulna relative to the strain gauge-dependent methods (A and B), while avoiding the need to use strain gauges.

Variation in hematologic and serum biochemical values of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under managed care.

Blood analytes are critical for evaluating the general health of cetacean populations, so it is important to understand the intrinsic variability of hematology and serum chemistry values. Previous studies have reported data for follow-up periods of several years in managed and wild populations, but studies over long periods of time (> 20 yr) have not been reported. The study objective was to identify the influences of partitioning characteristics on hematology and serum chemistry analytes of apparently healthy managed beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). Blood values from 31 managed belugas, at three facilities, collected over 22 yr, were assessed for seasonal variation and aging trends, and evaluated for biologic variation among and within individuals. Linear mixed effects models assessed the relationship between the analytes and sex, age, season, facility location, ambient air temperature, and photoperiod. Sex differences in analytes and associations with increasing age were observed. Seasonal variation was observed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, monocytes, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Facilities were associated with larger effects on analyte values compared to other covariates, whereas age, sex, and ambient temperature had smaller effects compared to facility and season. Present findings provide important baseline information for future health monitoring efforts. Interpretation of blood analytes and animal health in managed and wild populations over time is aided by having available typical levels for the species and reference intervals for the degree to which individual animals vary from the species average and from their own baseline levels during long-term monitoring.

Fecal pathogen pollution: sources and patterns in water and sediment samples from the upper Cook Inlet, Alaska ecosystem.

Fecal pathogens are transported from a variety of sources in multi-use ecosystems such as upper Cook Inlet (CI), Alaska, which includes the state's urban center and is highly utilized by humans and animals. This study used a novel water quality testing approach to evaluate the presence and host sources of potential fecal pathogens in surface waters and sediments from aquatic ecosystems in upper CI. Matched water and sediment samples, along with effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment facility, were screened for Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., and noroviruses. Additionally, Bacteroidales spp. for microbial source tracking, and the fecal indicator bacteria Enterococcus spp. as well as fecal coliforms were evaluated. Overall, Giardia and Vibrio were the most frequently detected potential pathogens, followed by Cryptosporidium and norovirus, while Salmonella was not detected. Sample month, matrix type, and recent precipitation were found to be significant environmental factors for protozoa or host-associated Bacteroidales marker detection, whereas location and water temperature were not. The relative contribution of host-associated markers to total fecal marker concentration was estimated using a Monte Carlo method, with the greatest relative contribution to the Bacteroidales marker concentration coming from human sources, while the remainder of the universal fecal host source signal was uncharacterized by available host-associated assays, consistent with wildlife fecal sources. These findings show how fecal indicator and pathogen monitoring, along with identifying contributing host sources, can provide evidence of coastal pathogen pollution and guidance as to whether to target human and/or animal sources for management.

Seasonal hematology and serum chemistry of wild beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Bristol Bay, Alaska, USA.

We collected blood from 18 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), live-captured in Bristol Bay, Alaska, USA, in May and September 2008, to establish baseline hematologic and serum chemistry values and to determine whether there were significant differences in hematologic values by sex, season, size/age, or time during the capture period. Whole blood was collected within an average of 19 min (range=11-30 min) after the net was set for capture, and for eight animals, blood collection was repeated in a later season after between 80-100 min; all blood was processed within 12 hr. Mean hematocrit, chloride, creatinine, total protein, albumin, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly lower in May than they were in September, whereas mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocytes, phosphorous, magnesium, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, and creatinine kinase were significantly higher. Mean total protein, white blood cell count, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were significantly higher early in the capture period than they were later. No significant differences in blood analyte values were noted between males and females. Using overall body length as a proxy for age, larger (older) belugas had lower white blood cell, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts as well as lower sodium, potassium, and calcium levels but higher creatinine levels than smaller belugas. These data provide values for hematology and serum chemistry for comparisons with other wild belugas.