PLASMA PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS AND SELECT ACUTE PHASE PROTEINS IN HEALTHY BONNETHEAD SHARKS (SPHYRNA TIBURO) UNDER MANAGED CARE

Abstract

Preventative health care of elasmobranchs is an important but understudied field of aquatic veterinary medicine. Evaluation of inflammation through the acute phase response is a valuable tool in health assessments. To better assess the health of bonnethead sharks ( Sphyrna tiburo ) under managed care, normal reference intervals of protein electrophoresis (EPH) and the acute phase proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (HP), were established. Blood was collected from wild caught, captive raised bonnethead sharks housed at public aquaria. Lithium heparinized plasma was either submitted fresh or stored at -80°C prior to submission. Electrophoresis identified protein fractions with migration characteristics similar to other animals with albumin, α-1 globulin, α-2 globulin, β globulin, and γ globulin. These fractions were classified as fractions 1-5 as fractional contents are unknown in this species. Commercial reagents for CRP and HP were validated for use in bonnethead sharks. Reference intervals were established using the robust method recommended by the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology for the calculation of 90% reference intervals. Once established, the diagnostic and clinical applicability of these reference intervals was used to assess blood from individuals with known infectious diseases that resulted in systemic inflammation and eventual death. Unhealthy bonnethead sharks had significantly decreased fraction 2, fraction 3, and fraction 3:4 ratio and significantly increased fraction 5, CRP, and HP. These findings advance our understanding of elasmobranch acute phase inflammatory response and health and aid clinicians in the diagnosis of inflammatory disease in bonnethead sharks.

Serum Protein Analysis of Nurse Sharks

“…In Hyatt et al. , fraction 3 decreased in Bonnetheads exhibiting inflammation. A change in the fraction 3 protein concentration in Nurse Sharks may be clinically relevant.…”

“…; Hyatt et al. ). A minor band was identified within the mammalian albumin fraction migrating distance (fraction 1).…”

“…; Hyatt et al. ). The minor fraction 1 band (rather than albumin) may contain high‐density lipoproteins as described in other elasmobranchs, as the location and concentration of fraction 1 in this study is consistent with the location of fraction 1 in those studies (Metcalf and Gemmell ; Cray et al.…”

“…In birds, reptiles, and mammals, fraction 3 is thought to contain alpha‐2 macroglobulin, hapto‐globulin, and ceruloplasmin; however, the proteins found in fraction 3 in elasmobranchs have yet to be determined (Hyatt et al. ). In Hyatt et al.…”

“…; Hyatt et al. ). To establish RIs, blood must be collected from 120 individuals within a species as recommended by the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.…”