HMSRP Hawaiian Monk Seal Blood Values (Establishing hematology and serum chemistry reference ranges for wild Hawaiian Monk Seals)

Hematology and serum chemistry evaluations are essential to a patients comprehensive health exam by providing measures of organ function, blood cell volume and health status. Reference ranges have to be established to interpret that the values are within normal limits. Presently, hematology and serum chemistry results from healthy, sick and injured Hawaiian monk seals are interpreted using past studies, which were limited by small samples sizes across age classes, collected from captive Hawaiian monk seals or established using frozen samples. This study builds on previous studies in sample size, quality and demographic representation to establish blood reference ranges by using samples collected between 2004 and 2015 from wild monk seals of multiple age classes (n=65 seals; 28 adults, 18 subadults, 8 juveniles, 11 weaned pups). Samples were analyzed by a single veterinary diagnostic laboratory within 24 hours of collection from apparently healthy, free-ranging wild seals sampled opportunistically during population monitoring and research activities. Reference ranges were developed for 50 complete blood cell counts and serum chemistry parameters using the mean of the values within two standard deviations. While there are several possible approaches to establishment of reference ranges, this method was chosen to maintain consistency with those used by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory most commonly used for sample analysis. Key indices evaluated include total white blood cell count (WBC; mean- 8.145 K/uL, SD-1.73 ), red blood cell count (RBC; mean- 3.397 M/uL, SD- 0.46), hematocrit (mean- 51.56%, SD- 4.99), and total serum protein (TP; mean- 7.625g/dL, SD- 0.81). The development of comprehensive hematology and serum chemistry reference ranges for Hawaiian monk seals will enable more consistent and systematic interpretation of results, which will aid in the assessment and treatment of seals in rehabilitation and the determination of health status of seals sampled during translocation and other research/recovery activities.

The development of comprehensive hematology and serum chemistry reference ranges for Hawaiian monk seals will enable more consistent and systematic interpretation of results, which will aid in the assessment and treatment of seals in rehabilitation and the determination of health status of seals sampled during translocation and other research/recovery activities.

NMFS/PIFSC, Protected Species Division, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program Data Access, Sharing, and Dissemination Guidelines

Requestor will be asked to submit a request to Lizabeth Kashinsky (Lizabeth.Kashinsky@noaa.gov)

NMFS/PIFSC, Protected Species Division, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program Data Access, Sharing, and Dissemination Guidelines

Use of data will ideally be cleared with NMFS/PIFSC, Protected Species Division.

Data are collected both during dedicated efforts and opportunistically at Hawaiian monk seal haulout locations during variable-length field seasons over multiple years.

Blood values may vary over time and by animal history. Seal size/sex classes are not equally represented in the data set.

Seal size/sex classes are not equally represented in the data set.

Standard data life-cycle processes are followed to ensure quality and accuracy.

Not applicable

Data are backed-up daily per PIFSC's Information Technology Services security policies.

Statistics used to create a blood reference range for wild, healthy monk seals