Relationship between plasma iron concentration and gastric pH in captive adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Mitchell, Mark A.; Solangi, Moby; Clemons-Chevis, Connie L.; Vanderpool, Delphine; Romagnoli, Marci; Hoffland, Tim; Jowett, Peter L. H.

doi:10.2460/ajvr.69.7.900

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Whilst the presence of basal cells and erythrocytes (RBC) may be a sign of ulceration (Mitchell et al, 2008), basal cells were present in the gastric fluid where ulceration was absent on two occasions in the present study and were not seen in the gastric fluid where grade 4 ulceration was observed. RBC were found on only two occasions in this study, once in a sample taken by gastroscopy from a dolphin with grade 4 ulceration; and the other at an unknown ulcer severity where the gastric sample was collected through intubation.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 47%

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Diagnosing gastric ulcers in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) using gastroscopy and cytology

2023

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Gastric ulcers have been reported in a range of cetacean species. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.), the most common cetacean species held in captivity, are known to experience gastric ulcers in both wild and captive environments. Documented causes of gastric ulceration include bacterial infection by Helicobacter sp., parasitic infections, high dietary histamine and foreign body ingestion. Gastric ulceration without any obvious cause might be related to stress. Currently, the most accurate way to determine the presence of gastric ulcers in captive dolphins is through direct examination of the stomach mucosa using endoscopy (gastroscopy); a procedure that requires substantial animal training and specialised medical equipment. In this study, we investigate whether cytology of the gastric fluid, collected through the less intensive method of intubation, can be used as an alternative to gastroscopy to predict the presence and severity of gastric ulcers in eight captive bottlenose dolphins at uShaka Sea World, South Africa. An ulcer grading scale was developed to quantify the severity of the dolphins' gastric ulcers observed using gastroscopy. Gastric ulcer severity was then compared with the cytological data collected from gastric fluid samples taken during the gastroscopic examinations. The cytological findings were consistent with other studies, but ulcer severity was not found to be linked to the cytological parameters measured. From these results we suggest that routine cytology of the gastric fluid is not a viable alternative to gastroscopy for diagnosing gastric ulcers in bottlenose dolphins.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 47%

“…Whilst the presence of basal cells and erythrocytes (RBC) may be a sign of ulceration (Mitchell et al, 2008) The mean pH of the gastric samples across all ulcer grades in this study was within the normal range for fasted, clinically healthy dolphins…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Diagnosing gastric ulcers in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) using gastroscopy and cytology

2023

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“…Ascorbic acid enhances the absorption of dietary iron, 32 and high-quality fish contain adequate amounts of iron, thereby eliminating the need for administration of supplemental iron. Also, a recent study 33 revealed that gastric pH may play a role in iron absorption and maintenance of plasma iron concentrations in bottlenose dolphins. Thus, treatment with antacids to increase gastric pH may reduce iron absorption in dolphins with iron overload.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of phlebotomy treatment in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins with iron overload

Johnson

Venn‐Watson²,

Cassle³

et al. 2009

javma

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“…Given the four-chambered stomach morphology of odontocetes, it is difficult to measure the real pH value of the digestion fluids in the forestomach ( Mitchell et al, 2008 ). Digestion fluids are produced in the main stomach and flow potentially randomly as a reflux into the forestomach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro forestomach digestion experiments give less-biased estimates of food composition in odontocetes

et al. 2022

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Diet composition of odontocetes is usually inferred from stomach content analyses and accounts for digestion rates derived from in vitro digestion experiments based on seal physiology. However, pinnipeds, being carnivores, have only one stomach compartment, while odontocetes, being cetartiodactyla, have up to four. Inappropriate extrapolation from digestion processes in simulated seal stomachs may result in biased estimates of odontocete diets. We simulated a forestomach accounting for muscle contractions and a pH=4 using in vitro experiments with three fish species. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus), black goby (Gobius niger) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) showed highly variable exponential, sigmoid or linear digestion functions, and high digestion rates, taking between 50 and 230 min for completed digestion. Previous pinniped models (pH=2, lacking simulated muscular digestion) showed much slower and more similar digestion process. Our results suggest that present biomass intake estimates of odontocetes are biased towards bigger and fattier fish and need to be revised in general.

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Relationship between plasma iron concentration and gastric pH in captive adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Abstract: Analysis of results reported here suggested that gastric pH may play an important role in iron absorption in dolphins.

Cited by 7 publications

References 9 publications

Diagnosing gastric ulcers in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) using gastroscopy and cytology

Diagnosing gastric ulcers in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) using gastroscopy and cytology

Use of phlebotomy treatment in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins with iron overload

In vitro forestomach digestion experiments give less-biased estimates of food composition in odontocetes

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