title: Health Status of Galápagos Sea Lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) on San Cristóbal Island Rookeries Determined by Hematology, Biochemistry, Blood Gases, and Physical Examination.
abstract: The Galápagos sea lion, Zalophus wollebaeki, is an endemic and endangered species subject to population decline associated with environmental variability, such as El Niño events, constant feeding stress, and exposure to diseases through contact with introduced species. Reference blood parameter intervals have been published for some pinniped species, but baseline biochemical and blood gas values are lacking from Z. wollebaeki. We analyzed blood samples from 30 juvenile Galápagos sea lions (19 females, 11 males) captured in two rookeries on San Cristóbal Island. A portable blood analyzer (iSTAT) was used to obtain near-immediate field results for pH, partial pressure of O2, partial pressure of CO2, bicarbonate (HCO3(-)), hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin, Na, K, ionized Ca, and glucose, and blood lactate was measured using a portable Lactate Plus(TM) analyzer. Average heart rate, biochemistry, and hematology parameters were comparable with healthy individuals of other pinniped species. Hemoglobin was significantly correlated with body condition of juvenile Galápagos sea lions. When compared with available blood values of clinically healthy California sea lions, Galápagos sea lions had higher total protein and Hct and lower Ca and K levels. Our results provide baseline data that may be useful in comparisons among populations and in detecting changes in health status among Galápagos sea lions.
authors.affiliation: 1 Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador.|2 Galápagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador.|3 Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Unidad Técnica Operativa San Cristóbal, Galápagos, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Páez-Rosas
authors.affiliation: 2 Galápagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirschfeld
authors.affiliation: 4 North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deresienski
authors.affiliation: 2 Galápagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, Ecuador.|4 North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lewbart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004484:Ecuador; D006304:Health Status; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000662:veterinary; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000097:blood
keywords: Biochemistry; Galápagos Islands; Zalophus wollebaeki; blood gases; health status; hematology