title: Comparison of hematology, plasma biochemistry, and blood gas variables between 2 venipuncture sites in Southern Stingrays (Dasyatis americana).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Southern Stingray (Dasyatis americana) is a batoid elasmobranch frequently exhibited in zoological institutions. Blood is commonly collected from the caudal hemal arch at the tail base in stingrays for the purpose of health assessment and clinical pathology tests. An alternative site that allows a dorsal or ventral approach without necessitating puncture of a cartilaginous structure has been identified between the cartilaginous pectoral fin rays (ceratotrichia).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to compare CBC, plasma biochemistry analytes, and blood gas variables between blood samples collected from the caudal and pectoral fin vasculature sites of the Southern Stingray.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen captive Southern Stingrays (10 females, 5 males) from 4 zoo and aquarium facilities were sampled. Lithium heparinized blood samples were collected from the caudal and pectoral venipuncture sites of each animal. Values from estimated total and differential leukocyte counts, plasma biochemistry analytes, and blood gas variables were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between venipuncture sites for the measured analytes except for CK activity, which was statistically significantly higher in the pectoral site samples. Levels of agreement between sites were good or moderate for 22 analytes and poor for ALT, AST, CK, pO2, lactate, monocytes, and eosinophils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The good agreement between sampling sites for the majority of the measured analytes and the lack of differences that would alter clinical interpretation support the use of the pectoral site as an alternative to the traditional caudal fin venipuncture site in Southern Stingrays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, and Environmental Medicine Consortium, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.|Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC, USA.|North Carolina Aquariums, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Brianne E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, and Environmental Medicine Consortium, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.|Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC, USA.|North Carolina Aquariums, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Emily F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, and Environmental Medicine Consortium, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.|Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Stoskopf
authors.affiliation: Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Broadhurst
authors.affiliation: Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, and Environmental Medicine Consortium, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.|Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harms
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010338:Pathology, Clinical; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D012860:Skates, Fish / Q000097:blood*
keywords: Caudal vasculature; clinical pathology; elasmobranch; pectoral vasculature