Health assessment of three species of wild dolphins living in the west Florida Shelf: blood, disease, cytology parameters collected from 2022-06-01 to 2024-05-31
Funded By:
Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program
Funding Cycle:
FLRACEP 3
Research Group:
Health and Movements of Florida’s Dolphins
Randall Wells
Chicago Zoological Society / Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
rwells@mote.org
Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Rough-toothed dolphin, health assessment, blood chemistry, urinalysis, pulmonary, blood gas, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella frontalis, Steno bredanensis
Abstract:
This dataset contains health assessment data from three species of live dolphins over the West Florida shelf, Florida: common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), and a rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis). Data was collected from 2022-06-01 to 2024-05-31 using methods previously described in the literature. Relevant data for each live wild dolphin sampled include species, sampling location (latitude and longitude), date, time, sex, morphometrics, physical veterinary exam results, and diagnostic test results, summarized as 1) blood and disease findings, and 2) cytology findings (from urine, blowhole, gastric, fecal samples). Narrative reports of these dolphin health assessments can be found in GRIIDC dataset F3.x305.000:0002: https://doi.org/10.7266/hxgym775.
Suggested Citation:
Wells, Randall and Robyn Allen. 2025. Health assessment of three species of wild dolphins living in the west Florida Shelf: blood, disease, cytology parameters collected from 2022-06-01 to 2024-05-31. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/gccpb9s7
Purpose:
The purpose of this project was to establish baseline data on the health of dolphins inhabiting the waters of the West Florida Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico.
Data Parameters and Units:
DOLPHIN ID (Unique identifier for each dolphin in the dataset), NAME (Unique name for each dolphin in the dataset), FREEZE BRAND NUMBER (Unique freeze brand number for each dolphin in the dataset), PTT ID (Unique tracking device number), DATE (Date (yyyy-MON-dd)), PROGNOSIS (General health status), LATITUDE (Latitude in decimal degrees), LONGITUDE (Longitude in decimal degrees), HOOP NET STRIKE TIME (Time (24:00) hoop net was deployed during capture-assessment-release process), ON MAT TIME (Time (24:00) animal was safely on the floating mat), RESTRAINED TIME (Time (24:00) animal was safely in handlers' control), ON DECK TIME (Time (24:00) animal was safely on the deck of the boat), SAMPLE TIME (Time (24:00) animal blood sample taken), SEX (Sex of the dolphin), AGE (YRS) (Estimated age in years), LENGTH (cm) (Total length in cm), WEIGHT (kg) (Body weight in kg), BLUBBER #81 (mm) (Blubber measurement at site #81 (mm)), LUNG HEALTH ULTRASOUND (General lung health status from ultrasound), LUNG HEALTH SPIROMETRY (General lung health status from spirometry), PREGNANT? (Pregnancy status), PREGNANCY DATA (Description of pregnancy status), LACTATING? (Lactation status), SIGNIFICANT, ACTIVE HEALTH CONCERNS, LESIONS (Animal health concerns, including lesions), NO. OF ENTANGLEMENT SCARS (Number of line entanglement scars on body of animal), ENTANGLEMENT LOCATIONS (Location of line entanglement scars on body of animal), NO. OF CONFIRMED SHARK BITE SCARS (Number of confirmed shark bite scars on body of animal), CONFIRMED SHARK BITE LOCATIONS (Location of confirmed shark bite scars on body of animal), NO. OF POSSIBLE SHARK BITE SCARS (Number of possible shark bite scars on body of animal), POSSIBLE SHARK BITE LOCATIONS (Location of possible shark bite scars on body of animal), NO. OF STINGRAY BARB WOUNDS (Number of possible stingray barb wounds on body of animal), NO. OF CONFIRMED BARB WOUNDS (Number of confirmed stingray barb wounds on body of animal), NO. OF UNCONFIRMED BARB WOUNDS (Number of unconfirmed stingray barb wounds on body of animal), BARB WOUND LOCATIONS (Location of confirmed and unconfirmed stingray barb wounds on body of animal), NO. OF PROPELLER WOUNDS (Number of boat propeller wounds on body of animal), PROPELLER WOUND LOCATIONS (Location of boat propeller wounds on body of animal), NO. OF POSSIBLE HUMAN INTERACTION SCARS (Number of possible human interaction scars on body of animal), POSS. HUMAN INTERACTION SCAR LOCATIONS (Location of possible human interaction scars on body of animal), MORBILLIVIRUS (Morbillivirus test results), INFLUENZA (Influenza test results), CBC LAB (Laboratory analyzing complete blood cell results), CBC COMMENTS (Complete blood cell result comments), PLASMA APPEARANCE (Plasma appearance), PCV (%) (Packed Cell Volume (%)), HCT (%) (Hematocrit (%)), HGB (g/dl) (Hemoglobin (g/dL)), RBC (x10^6/cmm) (Red blood cells (x10^6/cmm)), MCV (fl) (Mean corpuscular volume (fL)), MCH (pg) (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (pg)), MCHC (g/dl) (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (g/dL)), RDW (%) (Red blood cell distribution width (%)), RET. COUNT (%) (Reticulocyte Count (%)), ABS. RET. COUNT (thou/ul) (Absolute Reticulocyte Count (thou/uL)), WBC (x10^3/cmm) (White blood cells (thou/uL)), NEUTR., REL. *(%) (Neutrophil(s) relative (%)), BANDS, REL. *(%) (Band Neutrophil(s) relative (%)), LYMPHS, REL. *(%) (Lymphocyte(s) relative (%)), MONOS, REL. *(%) (Monocyte(s) relative (%)), EOS, REL. *(%) (Eosinophil(s) relative (%)), BASOS, REL. *(%) (Basophil(s) relative (%)), N. RBC (/100 WBC) (Nucleated RBCs (/100 WBC)), SEGMENTED NEUTR., ABS. (per cmm) (Segmented Neutrophil(s) absolute (per cmm)), BANDS, ABS. (per cmm) (Band Neutrophil(s) absolute (per cmm)), LYMPHS, ABS. (per cmm) (Lymphocyte(s) absolute (per cmm)), MONOS, ABS. (per cmm) (Monocyte(s) absolute (per cmm)), EOS, ABS. (per cmm) (Eosinophil(s) absolute (per cmm)), BASOS, ABS. (per cmm) (Basophil(s) absolute (per cmm)), PLATELET COUNT (per cmm) (Platelet Count (per cmm)), MPV (fL) (Mean platelet volume (fL)), PLAS. Prot. (g/dl) (Plasma protein (g/dl)), LAB/SAMPLE (IMMUNO.) (Laboratory/Sample type submitted to analytical laboratory for immunology), IMMUNO SAMPLE COMMENTS (Immunology sample comments), ALBUMIN agALB (g/dl) (Albumin (g/dL)), agALPHA1 (g/dl) (Alpha1 Globulin (g/dL)), agALPHA2 (g/dl) (Alpha2 Globulin (g/dL)), agT ALPH (g/dl) (Total Alpha Globulin (g/dL)), ag BETA1 (g/dl) (Beta1 Globulin (g/dL)), ag BETA2 (g/dl) (Beta2 Globulin (g/dL)), agT BETA (g/dl) (Total Beta Globulin (g/dL)), agGAMMA (g/dl) (Gamma Globulin (g/dL)), agTOT GLOB (g/dl) (Total Gamma Globulin (g/dL)), A/G (Immune A/G Ratio), agTOT PROT (g/dl) (Total Protein (g/dL)), LAB/SAMPLE (CHEMS) (Laboratory/Sample type submitted to analytical laboratory for blood chemistry analyses), CHEM SAMPLE COMMENTS (Blood chemistry sample comments), SODIUM (mEq/L) (Sodium (mEq/L)), POTASSIUM (mEq/L) (Potassium (mEq/L)), CHLORIDE (mEq/L) (Chloride (mEq/L)), CO 2 (mEq/L) (Bicarbonate (mEq/L)), AN. GAP (mEq/L) (Anion Gap (mEq/L)), BUN (mg/dl) (Urea Nitrogen (mg/dL)), CREATININE (mg/dl) (Creatinine (mg/dL)), URIC ACID (mg/dl) (Uric Acid (mg/dL)), CALCIUM (mg/dl) (Calcium (mg/dL)), PHOSPHATE (mg/dl) (Phosphate (mg/dL)), MAGNESIUM (mEq/L) (Magnesium (mEq/L)), TOTAL PROTEIN (g/dl) (Total Protein (g/dL)), ALBUMIN (g/dl) (Albumin (g/dL)), GLOBULIN (g/dl) (Globulin (g/dL)), A/G (Albumin/Globulin Ratio), GLUCOSE (mg/dl) (Glucose (mg/dL)), ALT (U/L) (Alanine minotransferase (U/L)), AST (U/L) (Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)), SDH (U/L) (Sorbitol dehydrogenase (U/L)), ALP (U/L) (Alkaline Phosphatase (U/L)), GGT (U/L) (Gamma-glutamyl transferase (U/L)), BILIRUBIN TOTAL (mg/dl) (Total Bilirubin (mg/dL)), BILIRUBIN DIRECT (mg/dl) (Direct Bilirubin (mg/dL)), BILIRUBIN IND. (mg/dl) (Indirect Bilirubin (mg/dL)), AMYLASE (U/L) (Amylase (U/L)), LIPASE U/L (Lipase (U/L)), CHOLESTEROL (mg/dl) (Cholesterol (mg/dL)), TRIGLYCERIDES (mg/dl) (Triglycerides (mg/dL)), CK (U/L) (Creatine Kinase (U/L)), LDH (U/L) (Lactate dehydrogenase (U/L)), BUN/CRE (Blood Urea Nitrogen/Creatinine Ratio), TOTAL IRON (ug/dl) (Total iron (ug/dl)), TIBC (mcg/dl) (Total Iron Binding Capacity (ug/dL)), IRON SAT. (%) (Iron Saturation (%)), SAMPLE COND. INDEX LIPEMIA (Lipemia), SAMPLE COND. INDEX HEMOLYSIS (Hemolysis), SAMPLE COND. INDEX ICTERUS (Icterus), FIBRINOGEN (mg/dl) (Fibrinogen (mg/dL)), LAB/SAMPLE HORMONES (Laboratory/Sample type submitted to analytical laboratory for endocrinology), CORTISOL, PRE (ug/dl) (Cortisol (ug/dL)), CORTISOL, PRE (Time) (Time sample obtained for cortisol analysis), T-3 (ng/ml) (TotalT3 (ng/mL)), T-4 THYROXINE (mcg/dl) (TotalT4 (mcg/dL)), FREE T-4 (ng/dl) (FreeT4 (ng/dL)), PROGESTERONE (ng/ml) (Progesterone (ng/mL)), **RIA (ng/ml) TESTOSTERONE (Testosterone (ng/mL)), **CIA (ng/ml) TESTOSTERONE (Testosterone (ng/mL)), DOLPHIN Morbilli. (titer) (Morbillivirus titer test results), DOLPHIN Morbilli. DMV/CMV (Morbillivirus test results), DOLPHIN ID (Unique identifier for each dolphin in the dataset), NAME (Unique name for each dolphin in the dataset), FREEZE BRAND NUMBER (Unique freeze brand number for each dolphin in the dataset), PTT ID (Unique tracking device number), DATE (Date (yyyy-MON-dd)), PROGNOSIS (General health status), LATITUDE (Latitude in decimal degrees), LONGITUDE (Longitude in decimal degrees), HOOP NET STRIKE TIME (Time (24:00) hoop net was deployed during capture-assessment-release process), ON MAT TIME (Time (24:00) animal was safely on the floating mat), RESTRAINED TIME (Time (24:00) animal was safely in handlers' control), ON DECK TIME (Time (24:00) animal was safely on the deck of the boat), SAMPLE TIME (Time (24:00) animal blood sample taken), SEX (Sex of the dolphin), AGE (YRS) (Estimated age in years), LENGTH (cm) (Total length in cm), WEIGHT (kg) (Body weight in kg), BLUBBER #81 (mm) (Blubber measurement at site #81 (mm)), LUNG HEALTH ULTRASOUND (General lung health status from ultrasound), LUNG HEALTH SPIROMETRY (General lung health status from spirometry), PREGNANT? (Pregnancy status), PREGNANCY DATA (Description of pregnancy status), LACTATING? (Lactation status), SIGNIFICANT, ACTIVE HEALTH CONCERNS, LESIONS (Animal health concerns, including lesions), NO. OF ENTANGLEMENT SCARS (Number of line entanglement scars on body of animal), ENTANGLEMENT LOCATIONS (Location of line entanglement scars on body of animal), NO. OF CONFIRMED SHARK BITE SCARS (Number of confirmed shark bite scars on body of animal), CONFIRMED SHARK BITE LOCATIONS (Location of confirmed shark bite scars on body of animal), NO. OF POSSIBLE SHARK BITE SCARS (Number of possible shark bite scars on body of animal), POSSIBLE SHARK BITE LOCATIONS (Location of possible shark bite scars on body of animal), NO. OF STINGRAY BARB WOUNDS (Number of possible stingray barb wounds on body of animal), NO. OF CONFIRMED BARB WOUNDS (Number of confirmed stingray barb wounds on body of animal), NO. OF UNCONFIRMED BARB WOUNDS (Number of unconfirmed stingray barb wounds on body of animal), BARB WOUND LOCATIONS (Location of confirmed and unconfirmed stingray barb wounds on body of animal), NO. OF PROPELLER WOUNDS (Number of boat propeller wounds on body of animal), PROPELLER WOUND LOCATIONS (Location of boat propeller wounds on body of animal), NO. OF POSSIBLE HUMAN INTERACTION SCARS (Number of possible human interaction scars on body of animal), POSS. HUMAN INTERACTION SCAR LOCATIONS (Location of possible human interaction scars on body of animal), MORBILLIVIRUS (Morbillivirus test results), INFLUENZA (Influenza test results), URINALYSIS LAB (Laboratory sample submitted to analytical laboratory for urinalysis), UA VOLUME (ml) (Volume of urine collected (ml)), UA COLOR (Color of urine sample), UA CLARITY (Turbidity of urine sample), UA pH (pH of urine sample), UA SP GRAV. (Specific gravity of urine sample), UA GLUCOSE (mg/dl) (Glucose concentration in urine sample), UA BILI (Bilirubin concentration in urine sample), UA KETONES (mg/dl) (Ketones concentration in urine sample), UA BLOOD (Heme concentration in urine sample), UA PROTEIN (mg/dl) (Total protein in urine sample), UA UROBIL. (EU/dl) (Urobilinogen in urine sample), UA NITRITE (Nitrite in urine sample), UA LEUK. ESTER (Leukocyte esterasein urine sample), UA WBC/HPF (WBC count in urine sample), UA RBC/HPF (RBC count in urine sample), UA SQ EPI/HPF (Squamous epithelial cells in urine sample), UA Renal/HPF (Renal epithelial cells in urine sample), UA CASTS HYALINE (Casts in urine sample), UA CRYSTALS CA OXALATE (Crystals in urine sample), UA SPERM (Sperm in urine sample), UA BACT (Bacteria in urine sample), UA SEDIMENT amorph. (Amorphous sediment in urine sample), DEBRIS (Debris in urine sample), FAT DROPLETS (Fat droplets in urine sample), UA Comments (Urinalysis comments), UA INTERPRETATION (NSCF = no significant cytological findings) (Urinalysis interpretation), BLOW HOLE CYTOLOGY TYPE (Blow hole sample collection and analysis type), BH WBC/HPF (WBC count in blow hole sample), BH RBC/HPF (RBC count in blow hole sample), BH SQ EPI/HPF (Squamous epithelial cells in blow hole sample), BH MACROPHAGE (Macrophage count in blow hole sample), BH PROTOZOA (Protozoa count in blow hole sample), BH OVA (Ova count in blow hole sample), BH YEAST (Yeast count in blow hole sample), BH FUNGI (Fungi count in blow hole sample), BH BACTERIA (Bacteria in blow hole sample), BH NASITREMA (Nasitrema in blow hole sample), BH OTHER PARASITE (Other parasite in blow hole sample), BH COMMENTS (Blow hole sample analysis comments), *BH INTERPRETATION (NSCF = no significant cytological findings) (Blow hole sample analysis interpretation), GASTRIC CYTOLOGY TYPE (Gastric sample collection and analysis type), GA COLOR (Color of gastric sample), GA CHARACTER (Turbidity of gastric sample), GA ODOR (Odor of gastric sample), GA WBC/HPF (WBC count in gastric sample), GA RBC/HPF (RBC count in gastric sample), GA SQ EPI/HPF (Squamous epithelial cells in gastric sample), GA MACROPHAGE (Macrophage count in gastric sample), GA PROTOZOA (Protozoa count in gastric sample), GA OVA (Ova count in gastric sample), GA YEAST (Yeast count in gastric sample), BASAL CELLS (Basal cells in gastric sample), FUNGAL (Fungi count in gastric sample), BACTERIA (Bacteria in gastric sample), pH (pH of gastric sample), GA COMMENTS (Gastric sample analysis comments), *GA INTERPRETATION (NSCF = no significant cytological findings) (Gastric sample analysis interpretation), FECAL CYTOLOGY TYPE (Fecal sample collection and analysis type), FE WBC/HPF (WBC count in fecal sample), FE RBC/HPF (RBC count in fecal sample), FE SQ EPI/HPF (Squamous epithelial cells in fecal sample), FE MACROPHAGE (Macrophage count in fecal sample), FE PROTOZOA (Protozoa count in fecal sample), FE OVA/LPF (Ova count in fecal sample), FE OTHER PARASITES (Other parasites in fecal sample), FE YEAST (Yeast count in fecal sample), FE FUNGAL (Fungi count in fecal sample), OTHER (Other in fecal sample), FE BACTERIA (Bacteria in fecal sample), FE NAS (Non-aureus staphylococci in fecal sample), FE COMMENTS (Fecal sample analysis comments), *FE INTERPRETATION (NSCF = no significant cytological findings) (Fecal sample analysis interpretation)
Methods:
Standard catch-and-release health assessments were performed (Wells et al. 2004; Barratclough et al. 2019). Dolphins riding at the bow of the research vessel were caught with a break-away hoop-net, and maneuvered to a floating mat and then in some cases moved to the deck of the research vessel for measurements, examination, and sampling by 2 veterinarians before being tagged with a satellite-linked transmitter and released on-site.
Provenance and Historical References:
Wells, R.S., H.L. Rhinehart, L.J. Hansen, J.C. Sweeney, F.I. Townsend, R. Stone, D. Casper, M.D. Scott, A.A. Hohn, and T.K. Rowles. 2004. Bottlenose dolphins as marine ecosystem sentinels: Developing a health monitoring system. EcoHealth 1:246-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10393-004-0094-6 Barratclough, A., R. S. Wells, L. H. Schwacke, T. K. Rowles, F. M. Gomez, D. A. Fauquier, J. C. Sweeney, F. I. Townsend, L. J. Hansen, E. S. Zolman, B. C. Balmer and C. R. Smith. 2019. Health assessments of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Past, present, and potential conservation applications. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 6:444. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00444