Baseline health parameters of rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) using serum protein electrophoresis, acute phase proteins, and biochemistry.

Clinical metrics of baseline health in sentinel seabird species can offer insight into marine ecosystem dynamics, individual and population health, and assist in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts. Protein electrophoresis is useful for detecting changes in acute phase proteins and immunoglobulin levels that may indicate subtle inflammatory responses and/or infectious disease. Serum biochemistry can highlight nutritional status, metabolic derangements, and organ injury and function. However, baseline values for such health parameters are largely unknown for many seabird species. Therefore, the objective of this study is to establish baseline clinical health reference intervals for serum protein electrophoresis, acute phase proteins including serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, and biochemistry parameters in the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), a key sentinel species in the North Pacific. From 2013 to 2019, 178 wild, apparently healthy breeding adult rhinoceros auklets were captured across four breeding colonies in British Columbia, Canada (Lucy Island, Pine Island, Triangle Islands, and SGang Gwaay) and from one colony in Washington, United States (Protection Island). Reference intervals were calculated for protein electrophoresis fractions and acute phase proteins (n = 163), and serum biochemistry (n = 35) following established guidelines by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Animals were also assessed for the presence of antibodies to the influenza A virus. Approximately 48% (70/147) of sampled birds were seropositive for influenza A virus, with a prevalence of 50% (6/12) in 2013, 75% (47/63) in 2014, and 24% (17/72) in 2019. This work provides clinical baseline health metrics of a key North Pacific sentinel species to help inform marine ecosystem monitoring, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts in the Pacific Northwest.

REFERENCE VALUES AND COMPARISON OF BLOOD CHEMISTRY AND PLASMA PROTEIN VALUES BETWEEN GOLD STANDARD ANALYZERS AND FOUR POINT-OF-CARE DEVICES IN FREE-RANGING CANVASBACKS (AYTHYA VALISINERIA).

Accurate, timely, and cost-effective blood chemistry analysis is an essential tool for directing emergency treatment, monitoring the health status of captive and free-ranging individuals and flocks, and improving the efficacy of conservation actions. Blood samples were obtained from 52 canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) that were captured on San Francisco Bay, California, during December 2017 as part of a long-term study. Reference values and clinical agreement were determined for blood chemistry and plasma protein parameters among four commonly used point-of-care devices (VetScan® VS2, i-STAT®, AlphaTRAK®2 glucometer, refractometer) and two gold standard laboratory analyzers (Roche cobas® c501, Helena SPIFE 3000 system). Canvasback reference values were generally within expected ranges for Anatidae species with the exception of higher upper limits for sodium and chloride. Creatine kinase and aspartate transaminase values exceeded a published threshold for diagnosis of capture myopathy even though study birds were captured using low-stress techniques and successfully released. With the exception of higher alkaline phosphatase in hatch-year canvasbacks, no age or sex differences were observed for any analyte in this population that was captured during a nonbreeding period. Analysis of analyzer agreement found raw VetScan aspartate transaminase, calcium, glucose, and uric acid values; corrected VetScan albumin, potassium, sodium, and total protein values; raw i-STAT glucose and potassium values; and corrected i-STAT sodium and chloride values were clinically interchangeable with Roche cobas values. Raw VetScan and i-STAT glucose values were also interchangeable. However, none of the Roche or point-of-care analyzer plasma protein values were in clinical agreement with gold standard electrophoresis values. The findings of this study highlight the need for analyzer- or technique-specific reference values and provide biologists and veterinarians quantitative reference values using currently available analyzers to better assess and respond to the health of individuals and populations.

Diverse and highly recombinant anelloviruses associated with Weddell seals in Antarctica.

The viruses circulating among Antarctic wildlife remain largely unknown. In an effort to identify viruses associated with Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) inhabiting the Ross Sea, vaginal and nasal swabs, and faecal samples were collected between November 2014 and February 2015. In addition, a Weddell seal kidney and South Polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) faeces were opportunistically sampled. Using high throughput sequencing, we identified and recovered 152 anellovirus genomes that share 63-70% genome-wide identities with other pinniped anelloviruses. Genome-wide pairwise comparisons coupled with phylogenetic analysis revealed two novel anellovirus species, tentatively named torque teno Leptonychotes weddellii virus (TTLwV) -1 and -2. TTLwV-1 (n = 133, genomes encompassing 40 genotypes) is highly recombinant, whereas TTLwV-2 (n = 19, genomes encompassing three genotypes) is relatively less recombinant. This study documents ubiquitous TTLwVs among Weddell seals in Antarctica with frequent co-infection by multiple genotypes, however, the role these anelloviruses play in seal health remains unknown.

Identification of a polyomavirus in Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) from the Ross Sea (Antarctica).

Viruses are ubiquitous in nature, however, very few have been identified that are associated with Antarctic animals. Here we report the identification of a polyomavirus in the kidney tissue of a deceased Weddell seal from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The circular genome (5186 nt) has typical features of polyomaviruses with a small and larger T-antigen open reading frames (ORFs) and three ORFs encoding VP1, VP2 and VP3 capsid proteins. The genome of the Weddell seal polyomavirus (WsPyV) shares 85.4% genome-wide pairwise identity with a polyomavirus identified in a California sea lion. To our knowledge WsPyV is the first viral genome identified in Antarctic pinnipeds and the third polyomavirus to be identified from an Antarctic animal, the other two being from Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) and a sharp-spined notothen (Trematomus pennellii), both sampled in the Ross sea. The GenBank accession number: KX533457.

Use of Acoustic Transmitter-Equipped Remote Sedation to Aid in Tracking and Capture of Entangled California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).

Free-ranging California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) with marine debris entanglements were darted with a combination of medetomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam by using acoustic transmitter-equipped darts. Of the 15 animals sedated, 13 (87%) reentered the water and were tracked by using a unidirectional hydrophone. Sea lions that entered the water continued to surface and breathe postsedation. There were three mortalities (20%) during the course of this study due to the following: suspected drowning caused by entrapment under a dock, overdose due to inaccurate weight estimation, and trauma caused by a dart puncturing the animal's abdomen. The drug combination, new dart design, and tracking techniques allowed for successful remote sedation and capture of California sea lions in high-risk situations and improved our ability to determine the final outcome for all cases. These methods allow targeting and capture of individual animals, while minimizing disturbance to other animals.

Effects of freshwater housing and fluid types on aquatic bird serum electrolyte concentrations.

Recent seabird mass morbidity events have highlighted the need to elucidate the effects of freshwater and hypertonic saline use for fluid therapy and housing in captive aquatic birds. Serum electrolyte concentrations of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis; n = 9), western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis; n = 6), and common murres (Uria aalge; n = 25) housed on freshwater while undergoing rehabilitation at the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center in Fairfield, California, were compared to reference intervals from free-ranging populations. Additionally, northern fulmars were given intermittent oral boluses of hypertonic saline. In birds housed on freshwater, there were significant decreases in serum sodium and chloride, with 44% of northern fulmars and 72% of common murres falling below the established reference interval. All of the western grebes were able to maintain serum sodium and chloride within the reference intervals. The significance of these findings reflect the behavior and natural history of the species studied. The physiologic regulation of salt by the salt glands, gastrointestinal tract, and renal systems of seabirds, along with their behavior and natural history, should be considered when working with these birds in a rehabilitation or captive setting. Salt supplementation is necessary for some species of seabirds. Monitoring of serum electrolytes should be used for individual animals or salt supplementation should be considered in holopelagic species.