Blood plasma chemistry in White Sea bearded seals across different age groups
Open Access
- 31 December 2019
- journal article
- Published by Pensoft Publishers in Arctic Environmental Research
- Vol. 19 (4), 159-165
- https://doi.org/10.3897/issn2541-8416.2019.19.4.159
Abstract
Blood chemistry values are reported for the bearded seal species (Erignathus barbatus barbatus Erxleben, 1777) from the White Sea. 27 blood plasma indices are used to describe the state of the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals (total protein, albumin, α-, β-, γ-globulins, urea, creatinine, uric acid, glucose, lactic acid, total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, chlorides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase) in 3-, 5- and 10-year-old seals. The values of the studied parameters are similar to published data for bearded seal populations in other Arctic regions, as well as being in close agreement with indicators of other pinniped species of the same age. The plasma content of total protein, albumin, α-, β-, γ-globulins, urea, uric acid, total lipids, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and chlorides is invariable in animals of the studied ages. In common with other pinnipeds and land-based mammals, age-related changes in metabolic rates in the studied animal groups are most pronounced in the activity level of key metabolism enzymes. While aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase activity is higher in adult seals than in immature animals, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity is lower. Changes in biochemical parameters of bearded seal blood at the ages of 3, 5 and 10 years indicate a catabolic orientation in metabolism at all studied development stages. Although more research is needed to investigate the biological significance of a number of blood indices, the data presented in this study provide initial baseline blood chemistry parameters for use in assessing the condition of individual seals, as well as informing monitoring and management efforts for wild seal populations.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Comparative Health Assessments of Alaskan Ice SealsFrontiers in Veterinary Science, 2019
- Individual variability in diving, movement and activity patterns of adult bearded seals in Svalbard, NorwayScientific Reports, 2018
- Новые данные о клеточном составе крови морского зайцаДоклады Академии наук, 2015
- Bearded seal males perceive geographic variation in their trillsBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2013
- HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY OF HARP (PHOCA GROENLANDICA) AND HOODED SEALS (CYSTOPHORA CRISTATA) DURING THE BREEDING SEASON, IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE, CANADAJournal of Wildlife Diseases, 2006
- CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal MedicinePublished by Taylor & Francis Ltd ,2001
- Growth, age at sexual maturity and condition in bearded seals ( Erignathus barbatus ) from Svalbard, NorwayPolar Biology, 1999
- Creatine kinase in the dog: A reviewVeterinary Research Communications, 1993
- The Interpretation of Serum Biochemistry Test Results in Domestic AnimalsVeterinary Clinical Pathology, 1984
- Functional Hematology of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) in the Canadian ArcticJournal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1975