Clinical, hematological, total plasma protein and fibrinogen parameters of magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) pre- and post-rehabilitation

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the hematologic, total plasma protein (TPP) and fibrinogen profiles of young and adult magellanic penguins in PROAMAR and CETAS-SC, relating these results with the state of health and survival possibility of the animals. In Paraná 14 animals were evaluated in pre and eight in post-rehabilitation and 29 animals were evaluated in Santa Catarina after rehabilitation. Before rehabilitation, all animals showed weakness. In hematological exams of these animals, we found that anemia was present in 83% of the penguins that died and 50% of those which survived. The heterophils/lymphocytes (H/L) ratio was 3.87±0.57 in animals that died, significantly higher than the average of 2.20±0.30 for animals that survived. These two parameters are useful to assess the survival possibility of animals to rehabilitation. The body condition score was positively correlated with hematocrit and TPP, and negatively correlated with H/L ratio. After rehabilitation, the values were similar to other animals of the family Spheniscidae, with averages ranging from 1.64 to 1.90x10 6 erythrocytes/µL; 43.38 to 48.80% of hematocrit; 12.45 to 13.52g/dL of hemoglobin; 8,684 to 14,011 leukocytes/µL; 4,767 to 8,041 heterophils/µL; 3,215 to 4,951 lymphocytes/µL; 95 to 655 eosinophils/µl; 179.8 to 277.9 monocytes/µL; 141 to 184.9 basophils/µL; and 1.26 to 1.74 of H/L ratio. These parameters can therefore be used as reference values and release parameters for young and adult Magellanic penguins in captivity on the rehabilitation centers.

Capillary Electrophoresis Assessment of Plasma Protein Changes in an African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) With Aspergillosis

“…Despite the association of fibrinogen with inflammatory lesions, due to the lack of accurate fibrinogen detection methods, increases in fibrinogen in Gentoo penguins with an inflammatory lesion named bumblefoot were undetected . In addition, no increases were observed in recently captured Humboldt penguins and in Magellanic penguins, which were in rehabilitation facilities. , This calls for the development of epitope-specific detection methods, such as the generation of antibodies that accurately recognize fibrinogen across multiple species (Figure ). The area highlighted in red indicates a potential region that is conserved between multiple species and can be targeted for the development of antibody detection methods.…”

Splenic Small Cell Lymphoma with Presumed Secondary Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in an African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

“…Leukogram findings included a heterophil concentration within normal limits, a mildly increased heterophil-lymphocyte ratio, and mild hyperfibrinogenemia (400 mg/dL; reference interval, 180–260 mg/dL). 2 Plasma biochemistry panel findings included elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 1568 IU/L; reference range, 128–308 IU/L) 1 and creatine kinase (CK; 3989 IU/L; reference range, 147–691 IU/L). 1 Trace element analyses demonstrated an elevated iron concentration at 44 ppm (reference interval, <25 ppm) that was most likely secondary to ongoing disease rather than toxicity.…”

Influence of biological factors on hematological and serum biochemistry values in captive Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, and Macaroni penguins in Pingtung, Taiwan

“…Therefore, it is essential to acquire normal hematology and serum biochemistry intervals for each species in both the wild and captivity. Several studies have reported the normal blood values of wild Little ( Eudyptula minor ), Rockhopper ( Eudyptes chrysocome ), Magellanic ( Spheniscus magellanicus ), Gentoo ( Pygoscelis papua ), Adélie ( P. adeliae ), Chinstrap ( P. antarcticus ), Humboldt ( S. humboldti ), and Galápagos ( S. mendiculus ) penguins (Aguilera, Moreno, & Ferrer, ; Coraiola, Kolesnikovas, Krul, Mangini, & Locatelli‐Dittrich, ; Hawkey, Horsley, & Keymer, ; Karesh et al, ; Nicol, Melrose, & Stahel, ; Smith et al, ; Travis et al, ), as well as captive Gentoo, Humboldt, African ( S. demersus ), and Magellanic penguins (Bechert et al, ; Campos et al, ; Hawkey, Samour, Henderson, & Hart, ; Mazzaro et al, ). The influence of species, age, and gender on blood parameters has also been evaluated.…”