Effects of age and sex on clinicopathologic reference ranges in a healthy managed Atlantic bottlenose dolphin population.
OBJECTIVE
To establish reference ranges for hematologic and serum biochemical variables in healthy Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) of known age and sex that were housed in open ocean water.


METHODS
Original study.


METHODS
1,113 blood samples collected from 52 healthy bottlenose dolphins housed in open ocean water during 1998 to 2005.


METHODS
Data obtained from analyses of blood samples that had been collected for routine purposes from dolphins were analyzed with respect to sex and age of the dolphins. Each dolphin was categorized into 1 of 4 groups: 1 to 5 years (calf), > 5 to 10 years (juvenile), > 10 to 30 years (adult), or > 30 years (geriatric). Retrospective ANCOVA was performed for 30 hematologic and serum biochemical variables, with age and sex as cofactors.


RESULTS
Among healthy bottlenose dolphins, age and sex significantly affected 23 of 30 (76.7%) and 11 of 30 (36.7%) hematologic and serum biochemical variables, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that age and sex significantly affected clinicopathologic reference ranges in our healthy bottlenose dolphin population. When assessing clinicopathologic variables in bottlenose dolphins, age and sex should be taken into consideration. The data obtained suggested reference ranges for healthy man-aged bottlenose dolphin populations housed in open ocean water by age and sex.
Venn-Watson
Stephanie
S
United States Navy Marine Mammal Program, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, CA 92152, USA.
Jensen
Eric D
ED
Ridgway
Sam H
SH
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors