Baseline haematological parameters in three common Australian frog species.

Amphibians are experiencing declines globally, with emerging infectious diseases as one of the main causes. Haematological parameters present a useful method for determining the health status of animals and the effects of particular diseases, but the interpretation of differential cell counts relies on knowing the normal ranges for the species and factors that can affect these counts. However, there is very little data on either normal haematological parameters or guides for blood cell types for free-ranging frog species across the world. This study aims to 1) create a visual guide for three different Australian frog species: Litoria paraewingi, Limnodynastes dumerilii, and Crinia signifera, 2) determine the proportions of erythrocytes to leukocytes and 3) differential leukocytes within blood smears from these three species and 4) assess the association between parasites and differential counts. We collected blood samples from free-ranging frogs and analysed blood smears. We also looked for ectoparasites and tested for the fungal disease chytridiomycosis. Overall, we found that the differentials of erythrocytes to leukocytes were not affected by species, but the proportions of different leukocytes did vary across species. For example, while lymphocytes were the most common type of leukocyte across the three species, eosinophils were relatively common in Limnodynastes dumerilii but rarely present in the other two species. We noted chytridiomycosis infection as well as ectoparasites present in some individuals but found no effect of parasites on blood parameters. Our results add baseline haematological parameters for three Australian frog species and provide an example of how different frog species can vary in their differential blood cell counts. More information is needed on frog haematological data before these parameters can be used to determine the health status of wild or captive frogs.

Determination of hematological and biochemical values blood parameters for European bison (Bison bonasus).

Hematological and biochemical blood parameters are important tools for evaluating animals' health. They might be crucial in assessing the health of entire populations of wild animals, such as European bison (Bison bonasus). The aim of this study was to establish hematological and biochemical values for healthy European bison and to determine whether there were significant relations with age and sex. Blood samples were collected from 79 animals and tested according to generally accepted standards and the results were subjected to statistical analysis. Most of the age and gender-related correlations found in our study were predictable based on previous reports. Due to bone growth, juvenile animals have typically higher ALP and P concentrations relative to adults. Several age-related dependencies were surprising, like higher Na concentration in younger European bison. Determination of hematological and biochemical blood parameters of healthy European bison may significantly contribute to the further restitution of this endangered species.

Interaction of blood calcium with milk yield, energy metabolites, subclinical mastitis, and reproductive performance in crossbred dairy cows.

Limited literature is available on the consequences of postpartum low blood calcium (Ca) concentration in crossbred cows. The research aimed to investigate the correlation between postpartum serum Ca levels and various parameters, including milk yield, serum energy metabolites, milk somatic cell count, and reproductive factors in crossbred cows. Following parturition, a total of 45 potential high-yielding F2 (HF × Sahiwal; Genotype: 75:25) dairy cows were enrolled . These cows were categorized based on plasma calcium concentrations into three groups: a low calcium group (Ca-L) with a calcium concentration of <5 mg/dL, a medium calcium group (Ca-M) with a calcium concentration ranging from 5 to 8.5 mg/dL, and a high calcium group (Ca-H) with a calcium concentration exceeding 8.5 mg/dL. The study parameters were measured over an 8-week period. The results indicated that overall milk yield and blood glucose were significantly higher in the Ca-H group compared to Ca-M and Ca-L (p < .01). Blood cholesterol was significantly higher in Ca-M (p < .01), while blood triglyceride was significantly lower in both Ca-M and Ca-H. Overall, blood cortisol did not show a significant change between these groups (p < .01); however, progesterone levels were higher (p < .01) in Ca-M and Ca-H cows. Furthermore, somatic cell count (SCC) significantly (p < .01) decreased in cows with Ca-H compared to Ca-L. Additionally, postpartum oestrous interval and interestrus interval decreased significantly (p < .01) in Ca-M and Ca-H compared to Ca-L. These findings suggest that cows with blood calcium levels exceeding 8.5 mg/dL exhibited significantly higher milk yield, blood metabolite levels, a lower likelihood of subclinical mastitis, and earlier reproductive activity after calving.

Novel Presentation of Coccidioidomycosis with Myriad Free-Floating Proteinaceous Spheres in the Pericardial Sac of a Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis).

A southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) stranded dead in central California, USA, with a distended pericardial sac containing thousands of free-floating proteinaceous masses. Serology, fungal culture, PCR, and sequencing confirmed the etiology of this novel lesion as Coccidioides immitis. Range expansion of this zoonotic pathogen is predicted with climate change.

Age-dependent changes in serum chemistry, mineral concentrations and complete blood cell count parameters in Holstein cattle.

Interpreting laboratory results from large animals is challenging owing to a lack of detailed reference ranges by age, sex, season, and breed. This study determined reference ranges for bovine serum chemistry and complete blood cell count (CBC) according to Holstein milking-cow age. Seventy-two healthy Holstein calves and cows (<1 week to milking age) were grouped: 1 (n = 7, <1 week), 2 (n = 10, 1 month), 3 (n = 13, 3 months), 4 (n = 13, 6 months), 5 (n = 10, 1 year, nulliparous), and 6 (n = 19, milking cows, parous). Fresh blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein between 10:00 and 12:00 AM in the winter; serum chemistry and haematologic profiles were assessed. Serum chemistry and CBC differed significantly by age. Age-related differences were observed for albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine phosphokinase, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein, triglyceride, blood-urea nitrogen, non-esterified fatty acid, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid levels. Age differences in creatinine and C-reactive protein were not noticeable. Among CBC parameters, age-related differences were observed for white-blood-cell, lymphocyte, red-blood-cell, and platelet counts; hemoglobin level; haematocrit; mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular-hemoglobin concentration. Therefore, age-dependent variations should be considered when interpreting cattle laboratory results.

FREE-RANGING OCELOTS (LEOPARDUS PARDALIS): HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY REFERENCE VALUES.

Acquiring baseline physiologic data for animals from a free-ranging wildlife species is an elusive objective. Between 1990 and 2020, a monitoring program on the last population of ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) to inhabit public land in the United States yielded 139 blood samples from 67 individual animals. Ocelots were live trapped and anesthetized for census and radiotelemetric studies. The protocol included morphometrics, photographs, electronic identification, and blood collection. Complete blood count and serum chemistry were performed, and after sorting of the data to remove unhealthy individuals and occasional outliers, the dataset provided sufficient information to compute reliable reference intervals (RI). According to the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology consensus guidelines, RI should be elaborated by using data from each reference individual only once. RI by random selection was determined when several measurements were available over time from one same animal. Second, RI were also computed allowing repeat measurements for reference individuals, exclusively to characterize and quantify the effect on the data distribution and on the generated RI. A summary of published RI for various species of wild felids is also presented. The variations observed between species is due not only to species differences but also to variation in measurement methods and RI study design. Overall, accurate blood work interpretation requires RI generated from a healthy population, with defined measurement methods and state-of-the-art RI study design. Of note, calcium is typically tightly regulated in all mammals, as illustrated by the narrow RI (8.5-10.8 mg/dl); conversely, finding a narrow RI in calcium across as many as 49 healthy individuals suggests a high-quality design study.

Enhancing bovine tuberculosis screening at Dhaka city in Bangladesh: Integrating gamma interferon blood test as ancillary testing with tuberculin skin test.

Tuberculin skin test (TST) is the standard method for screening of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). However, gamma interferon blood test has been introduced in the bTB control program as an ancillary testing with TST in many countries of the world. The objective of this study was to recommend this screening test as an ancillary testing with TST for field application in Bangladesh. In this study 577 cattle of different age, sex and breeds from twenty nine (29) cattle herds were examined to determine skin response against bTB through single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) that comprised of positive (n = 81), inconclusive (n = 44) and negative (n = 452) animals. Of which 74 animals that included positive (n = 63), inconclusive (n = 8) and negative (n = 3) animals were taken under this study. Blood samples were collected in heparinized tube and stimulated overnight with bovine and avian purified protein derivatives (PPDs) for the secretion of gamma interferon, and measured via sandwich ELISA. Cohen's kappa statistics was performed for the evaluation of agreement between the two tests. The agreement obtained between two tests was fair (Kappa agreement, K = 24.0%, 95% CI = 16.9-30.5%, P = 0.037). Of positive (n = 63), inconclusive (n = 8) and negative (n = 3) status of animals at SICTT, 82.54% (n = 52), 62.50% (n = 5), and 33.33% (n = 1) were found to be bTB positive respectively through this ancillary test. This test notably corroborates to TST result. A considerable number of inconclusive TB status animals were found to be positive through this gamma interferon assay. Therefore, this test could be used as an ancillary test with TST to maximize the proportion of bTB estimation in the infected cattle herd for early detection of zoonotic tuberculosis in Bangladesh before transmission at the animal-human interface.

A Pilot Study Investigating Plasma Protein Electrophoresis in One Anuran and Six Urodelan Species.

As threats to amphibian health increase, there is a growing need for diagnostic tools to assess and monitor their health status. Plasma protein electrophoresis has proven to be useful in other nonmammalian species. It enables quantification of protein fractions in plasma that may be altered in various disease processes, and is therefore useful in narrowing down differential diagnoses and detecting inflammation, in combination with other modalities such as biochemical and hematologic testing. The amphibian electrophoretogram must be defined before baseline reference intervals are obtained across species. Agarose gel electrophoresis was performed on plasma samples collected from presumed clinically normal individuals of one anuran and six urodelans: Osteopilus septentrionalis (n=2), Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (n=1), Notophthalmus viridescens (n=1), Eurycea guttolineata (n=2), Amphiuma tridactylum (n=2), Cryptobranchus alleganiensis (n=5), and Siren lacertina (n=6). The electrophoretograms varied in number of fractions between each species; however, the number of fractions was consistent within a species. An albumin migrating fraction was consistently observed in all species. A prealbumin migrating fraction was identified in species that primarily use organs other than skin for respiration. This study provides preliminary examples of a normal plasma protein electrophoretogram for seven amphibian species. Further studies quantifying reference intervals and identification of protein fractions will help establish protein electrophoresis as a useful tool in amphibian health investigations.

Establishment of a feline glycated hemoglobin reference interval for a novel dried-blood-spot assay and the effects of anemia on assay results.

BACKGROUND: Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reflects long-term (months) glycemic control and has been previously investigated as a monitoring and diagnostic tool in diabetic cats. However, a standardized, reliable, and globally available test and reference intervals (RIs) have not been established. A novel dried-blood-spot card system (A1Care, Baycom Diagnostics) allows for easy collection and evaluation of HbA1c levels in feline patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to establish an RI for HbA1c values in healthy adult cats using the A1Care (Baycom Diagnostics) dried-blood-spot card system. METHODS: Forty-one healthy client-owned adult cats were enrolled in this study. The RI for HbA1c was calculated according to the recommendation of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. RESULTS: The A1Care HbA1c RI for cats was determined to be 1.9%-3.1%. In healthy cats, A1Care HbA1c values were positively correlated with age (Spearman rho = 0.4 [95% CI 0.1 to 0.6], P = 0.01). In 50% of anemic cats, the A1Care HbA1c value was above 3.1%. There was a weak negative correlation between the A1Care HbA1c value and PCV (Spearman rho = -0.4 [95% CI -0.6 to -0.1]). CONCLUSIONS: This study established an RI for HbA1c in healthy adult cats similar to previously reported RIs. Future clinical studies are necessary to substantiate that this RI can differentiate diabetic from nondiabetic cats. Further long-term clinical studies will be valuable to determine if HbA1c values can be used as a screening test for prediabetes in cats.

Hematological reference values of horses in Western Libya and their relationship to breed, age, and management.

Background: Hematological evaluation is an important step for health assessment in equine medicine. Besides biochemical tests, that evaluation could be pivotal for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. In Libya, the horse population has drastically increased in the last years, and hitherto, no report addressed the reference hematological values for the existing equine breeds. Aim: This study aimed to establish the reference for hematological indices of traditional equestrian and stud-farm equine breeds in Western Libya in regard to some variables such as individual characteristics, management system, and rearing purpose. Methods: Blood samples of 167 horses of Arabian, Thoroughbred, and local breeds were collected from an area covering a large part of Western Libya and complete blood counts of the samples were performed using a hematological auto-analyzer. The collected data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science software. Results: Hematological reference indices were generated for the aforementioned equine breeds in Western Libya. The equine hematological profile was variable according to some individual and management factors. In addition, the significant effects of those factors were usually restricted to erythrocyte- and platelets (PLTs)-related indices. In terms of breed influence, Thoroughbreds had significantly lower erythrocyte counts of red blood cells (RBCs) compared to local horses (p = 0.04), and Arabian horses showed significantly higher PLT counts compared to Thoroughbreds and local horses; p = 0.00 and p = 0.03, respectively. Moreover, significantly lower values of hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), and PLT counts were noticed in young horses vis-à-vis significantly higher values of HCT, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width in females. In regard to exercise, racing horses varied significantly from nonracing horses in monocyte percentage (p = 0.04), RBC (p = 0.00), HGB (p = 0.00), HCT (p = 0.00), MCV (p = 0.00), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (p = 0.00). Diet supplementation also influenced the equine erythrocyte-related indices, as horses offered supplemented diet had significantly higher RBC (p = 0.00), HGB (p = 0.00), HCT (p = 0.00), MCV (p = 0.00), and MCH (p = 0.00), comparing to those served nonsupplemented diet. Conclusion: This study provided the first reference values of the equine hematological profile in Western Libya. In addition, the age, breed, exercise, and diet supplementation had variable impacts on hematological equine indices.

Hematological reference values for Alouatta palliata (Primates: Atelidae) and Cebus imitator (Primates: Cebidae) from the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica / Valores de referencia hematológicos para Alouatta palliata (Primates: Atelidae) y Cebus imitator (Primates: Cebidae) de la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica

Abstract Introduction: Wildlife hematological patterns are fundamental for health monitoring, and allows elucidating variations both within and between populations. Among these, hematological parameters are particularly valuable to evaluate the health status of neotropical primate species in the wild. Objective: To define hematological reference values for two species of monkeys in Costa Rica. Methods: During 2014, we collected blood samples from free-ranging mantled howler monkeys, Alouatta palliata (17 females, 18 males) and white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus imitator (5 females, 7 males) in seven localities of the Costa Rican Pacific coast. Results: For both species, the hematological values were higher in males, and howler monkey populations differed significantly except for platelets. Conclusions: These hematological values, which differ by sex and locality, will help evaluate the health status of these neotropical primate populations.

Resumen Introducción: Los patrones hematológicos de la vida silvestre son fundamentales para el monitoreo de la salud y permiten dilucidar las variaciones tanto dentro como entre poblaciones. Entre estos, los parámetros hematológicos son particularmente valiosos para evaluar el estado de salud de las especies de primates neotropicales en la naturaleza. Objetivo: Definir valores de referencia hematológicos para dos especies de monos en Costa Rica. Métodos: Durante el 2014 recolectamos muestras de sangre de monos aulladores de manto, Alouatta palliata (17 hembras, 18 machos) y monos capuchinos cariblancos, Cebus imitador (5 hembras, 7 machos) en siete localidades de la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica. Resultados: Para ambas especies, los valores hematológicos fueron mayores en los machos, y las poblaciones de monos aulladores difirieron significativamente con excepción de las plaquetas. Conclusiones: Estos valores hematológicos, que difieren según el sexo y la localidad, ayudarán a evaluar el estado de salud de estas poblaciones de primates neotropicales.

Exertional hemolysis and hematuria in a Labrador Retriever dog.

A 7-y-old male Labrador Retriever dog was presented because of acute onset of dark-colored urine after a hunting session the day prior. Moderate hemoglobinemia was observed, associated with transient hemoglobinuria and hematuria with no concurrent evidence of underlying urinary tract disease. The patient's clinical signs resolved within 36 h post-exercise without specific treatment. The concurrent occurrence of exertional hemolysis and hematuria in a dog is uncommon; these conditions are commonly reported separately in human athletes.

Evaluation of different blood tests in dogs with extrahepatic portosystemic shunts to assess shunt closure after surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of different individual and combined blood tests to assess extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS) closure after gradual attenuation of EHPSS in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective study. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs with EHPSS. METHODS: Fasting ammonia (FA), preprandial, postprandial, and paired serum bile acids (SBA), the lidocaine/monoethylglycylxylidide (L/MEGX) test, and serum hyaluronic acid (SHA) were performed at diagnosis, and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Transsplenic portal scintigraphy was performed to determine EHPSS closure 3 months postoperatively. Their sensitivity and specificity in determining shunt closure postoperatively were calculated. RESULTS: When assessing a single blood parameter, FA had the highest specificity (100%), whereas SHA and MEGX measured 15 min after lidocaine administration (T15) had the highest sensitivity (96.9% and 96.2%, respectively) for determining shunt closure postoperatively. The most promising blood test combinations were SHA (sensitivity 96.9%, specificity 81.8%), combined with the L/MEGX test (MEGX at T15: sensitivity 100%, specificity 72.4%) or the L/MEGX test (MEGX at T15) combined with either FA (sensitivity 100%, specificity 82.8%) or postprandial SBA (sensitivity 100%, specificity 81.5%). CONCLUSION: Both SHA and the L/MEGX test were sensitive tests for determining shunt closure after gradual attenuation of EHPSS. Test performances could even be improved by combining these tests with each other or with traditional tests such as FA or postprandial SBA. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although SHA and the L/MEGX test are sensitive blood tests for determining EHPSS closure, especially when combined with traditional blood tests, imaging is still needed to confirm EHPSS closure.

Hematology and Serum Chemistry of Free-Ranging Jaguars (Panthera onca) from a Floodplain Forest Site in Amazonia, Brazil.

We provide hematologic and biochemical information for 13 jaguars (Panthera onca) from the Amazon. Most showed increased lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase; all individuals showed lower mean red blood cell (RBC) counts compared to findings from other biomes. Males had a significantly higher RBC count and alkaline phosphatase than did females.

Quantification of normetanephrine in canine urine using ELISA: evaluation of factors affecting results.

Catecholamine release increases in dogs with pheochromocytomas and in situations of stress. Although plasma catecholamines degrade rapidly, their metabolites, normetanephrine (NME) and metanephrine (ME), are stable in acidified urine. Our aim was to verify a human urine ELISA kit for the quantification of NME and ME in canine urine and to determine the effects on metabolite stability of sampling time (morning or midday) and day (ordinary or day spent in a clinic). We analyzed 179 urine samples from 17 healthy dogs. For NME, the mean intra-assay CV was 6.0% for all samples and 4.3% for the canine control; inter-assay CVs were 3.3, 3.8, and 12% for high and low concentration human urine positive controls supplied in the ELISA kit and a positive canine control, respectively; spike-recovery was 90-101%. For ME, mean intra-assay CV was 6.5% for samples and 9.0% for the canine control; inter-assay CVs were 12.7, 7.2, and 22.5% for high and low concentration human urine positive controls supplied in the ELISA kit and a positive canine control, respectively; spike-recovery was 85-89%. Dilution recovery was unsatisfactory for both metabolites. Based on our verification results, NME was selected for remaining analyses. We found no effect on NME concentrations of acidification or room temperature storage for up to 24 h. The NME:creatinine ratio was higher after the first of 3 clinic days compared to the same morning (111.2 ± 5.5 vs. 82.9 ± 5.3; p < 0.0001), but not on the other days. NME verification results were generally superior to ME. Dilution studies were unsatisfactory for both metabolites. Given that NME was stable without acidification at room temperature, urine samples can be collected at home. The clinic environment can cause higher NME:creatinine ratios, especially in unaccustomed dogs.

Biochemical and Hematologic Reference Intervals for Anesthetized, Female, Juvenile Yorkshire Swine.

Swine are widely used in biomedical research, translational research, xenotransplantation, and agriculture. For these uses, physiologic reference intervals are extremely important for assessing the health status of the swine and diagnosing disease. However, few biochemical and hematologic reference intervals that comply with guidelines from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology are available for swine. These guidelines state that reference intervals should be determined by using 120 subjects or more. The aim of this study was to generate hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for female, juvenile Yorkshire swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) and to compare these values with those for humans and baboons (Papio hamadryas). Blood samples were collected from the femoral artery or vein of female, juvenile Yorkshire swine, and standard hematologic and biochemical parameters were analyzed in multiple studies. Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals were calculated for arterial blood samples from Yorkshire swine (n = 121 to 124); human and baboon reference intervals were obtained from the literature. Arterial reference intervals for Yorkshire swine differed significantly from those for humans and baboons in all commonly measured parameters except platelet count, which did not differ significantly from the human value, and glucose, which was not significantly different from the baboon value. These data provide valuable information for investigators using female, juvenile Yorkshire swine for biomedical re- search, as disease models, and in xenotransplantation studies as well as useful physiologic information for veterinarians and livestock producers. Our findings highlight the need for caution when comparing data and study outcomes between species.

The effect of age and sex on glycated hemoglobin in dogs.

We investigated the effect of age and sex on canine glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) using a validated capillary electrophoresis assay. Aliquots of EDTA blood samples collected for routine health checks were used. HbA1c was measured using the Capillarys 2 flex-piercing system (Sebia). We included 58 clinically and hematologically healthy, normoglycemic dogs (29 males, 29 females), allocated to 3 age groups: young (14 dogs <1-y-old), adult (31 dogs 1-7.9-y-old), and senior (13 dogs ≥8-y-old). The mean (± SD) HbA1c was not significantly different (p = 0.428) between the age groups (young: 1.68 ± 0.54%; adult: 1.59 ± 0.41%; senior: 1.80 ± 0.57%). The HbA1c was not significantly correlated with age (rho = 0.144, p = 0.280). The median (range) HbA1c was not significantly different (p = 0.391) between male [1.7% (0.5-2.5%)] and female [1.5% (1.0-2.7%)] dogs. Age and sex do not appear to affect canine HbA1c; however, a study of geriatric dogs would be needed to fully exclude an effect of age on HbA1c.

NONPIGMENTED VERSUS PIGMENTED: HEALTH VARIABLES AND GENETICS OF ALBINO FLORIDA GREEN TURTLE (CHELONIA MYDAS) HATCHLINGS COMPARED WITH NORMALLY PIGMENTED HATCHLINGS FROM THE SAME CLUTCH.

At the time of hatchling emergence from a nest laid on Juno Beach, Florida, US, by a normally pigmented green turtle (Chelonia mydas), 23 albino hatchlings and 75 normally pigmented hatchlings were observed. This condition is rarely seen in sea turtles, and little is known about blood analytes and genetics of albino wildlife to date. Therefore, the objective of our study was to assess and compare morphometric measurements (mass, minimum straight carapace length, body condition index), carapacial scute anomalies, a suite of hematologic and plasma biochemical analytes, and two glucose analysis methodologies (glucometer and dry chemistry analysis) in albino (n=20) versus normally pigmented (n=24) hatchlings from this nest. Genetic analyses were completed to identify paternal contributions of hatchlings and to test Mendelian inheritance assumptions. Although morphometric measurements, scute anomalies, and leukocyte morphology were similar between albino and normally pigmented hatchlings, several differences were observed in blood analyte data: immature erythrocytes, packed cell volume, heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, and glucose concentrations (by both methodologies) were significantly higher, whereas absolute immature heterophils, absolute lymphocytes, number of erythrocyte micronuclei, sodium, and chloride were significantly lower in albino hatchlings compared with normally pigmented hatchlings. Considerations for these differences include a stress response from sampling (e.g., timing of procedures or possibly from photosensitivity or reduced visual acuity in albinos) and different osmoregulation, which may reflect physiologic variations or stress. There was a small positive bias (0.10 mmol/L) with glucose by glucometer, similar to reports in other sea turtle species and confirming its suitability for use in hatchlings. All albino hatchlings analyzed (n=10) were from the same father, but the normally pigmented hatchlings (n=24) were from two other fathers. These findings provide insight into the physiology and genetics of albinism in sea turtles.

Companion animal veterinarians' and veterinary clients' perceptions of information exchanged while communicating about blood tests.

BACKGROUND: Blood tests play a vital role in veterinary medicine, as they enable veterinarians to make decisions about their patients' medical care and provide opportunities to engage clients in veterinary care. The objective of this study was to explore perspectives of veterinary clients and veterinarians on current reporting practices for blood tests ordered in companion animal practice. The type of information communicated and client information seeking behaviours were examined. METHODS: Two online surveys were distributed using snowball sampling: one targeting veterinary clients and one targeting veterinarians. RESULTS: In total, 529 veterinary client and 416 veterinarian surveys were included in analyses. Significant differences were found between what blood test information veterinarian respondents felt they provided clients and what client respondents perceived they received with regard to their pet's blood tests. Almost 60% of clients somewhat or strongly agreed that they search the Internet if they do not understand why a test was ordered or what the results mean. Half of clients reported that they never receive a written report of their pet's blood work, 81% of whom were interested in receiving a copy. CONCLUSION: Results of this research demonstrate opportunities to improve veterinarians' and clients' communication about blood tests.