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Thromboelastography in wild Florida manatees ( Trichechus manatus latirostris )
Author(s) -
Barratclough Ashley,
Floyd Ruth Francis,
Reep Roger L.,
Ball Ray L.,
Conner Bobbi J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/vcp.12599
Subject(s) - manatee , thromboelastography , blood sampling , fibrinolysis , medicine , biology , coagulation , fishery
Background Thromboelastography ( TEG ) provides a comprehensive evaluation of blood clot formation. This test can be used to identify abnormalities in coagulation by assessing multiple aspects of the clotting cascade, including the speed of clot initiation and formation, clot strength, and ultimately fibrinolysis. Thromboembolic disease has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of cold stress syndrome ( CSS ), an important cause of mortality in the threatened Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris ). Objectives The objective of this study was to establish thromboelastography RI s using the TEG 5000 with citrated whole blood samples and kaolin activation in wild, healthy manatees. Methods In December 2014 and January 2015, 29 wild manatees (17 male and 12 female) were blood sampled as part of the annual wild manatee health assessments organized by United States Geological Survey ( USGS ). TEG was performed using citrated kaolin‐activated samples. Results The samples were obtained from manatees caught in Crystal River, Citrus County, and used to identify the mean ± SD of normal TEG parameters: R = reaction time 2.1 minutes (0.8), K = clot formation time 0.8 min (0), α angle = 83.1° (2), MA = maximum amplitude 75 mm (7.6), and LY 30 = clot lysis 0.41% (0.68). No significant differences were found between manatee size, sex, or time between sampling and running the test. Conclusions Manatee TEG parameters demonstrate a relatively hypercoagulable condition when compared to other mammals. This information will facilitate detection of changes in hemostasis during injury and disease and provide a valuable reference range.