Abstract:

Reproductive success is a critical component of the care of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in managed care facilities and is vital in sustaining free-ranging dolphin populations. Despite well-established breeding programs with high reproductive success rates, pregnancy failures still occur in managed care just as they do in free ranging dolphin populations. Normal reference ranges for biochemistry and hematology variations during each stage of gestation during bottlenose dolphin pregnancy have been established. Subsequently, alterations in blood parameters were evaluated retrospectively on failed pregnancies, to assess which biomarkers could be measured as potential indicators of early pregnancy abnormalities. This dataset contains 263 archived blood samples from 1989-2017 from 21 failed pregnancies in 16 managed care dolphins. Identifying subtle changes allows earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment of maternal or fetal abnormalities to improve survivability and achieve a positive pregnancy outcome.

Suggested Citation:

Ashley Barratclough, Forrest M. Gomez, Jeanine Morey, Celeste Parry, Jennifer M. Meegan, Lori Schwacke, Abraham Cárdenas Llerenas, Eric D. Jensen, Cynthia R. Smith. 2019. Gestational variation in blood profiles of failed common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) pregnancies. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/4W777CR4

Purpose:

Identifying subtle changes in hematological and biochemical blood parameters in each trimester of dolphin pregnancies allows earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment of maternal or fetal abnormalities to improve survivability and achieve a positive pregnancy outcome.

Data Parameters and Units:

Exam.ID Unique identification number for each blood sample obtained Animal.ID Unique identification number for each dolphin in the dataset Blood.Date Calendar date that blood sample was obtained: day/month/year Trimester Trimester that blood sample was obtained: 1, 2 or 3 Fasting Documenting if the blood sample was obtained pre or post food consumption Progesterone Progesterone ng/ml WBC White Blood Cells 1000/µL RBC Red Blood Cells 10^6/µL HGB Hemoglobin g/dL HCT Hematocrit % MCV Mean Corpuscular Volume fL MCH Mean corpuscular hemoglobin pg MCHC Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration g/dL RBC.Dist Red blood cell distribution % Platelets Platelets 1000/µL MPV Mean Platelet volume fL SEGS Neutrophils % A.C.Neutrophils Neutrophils 1000/µL Lymphs Lymphocytes % A.C.Lymphocytes Lymphocytes 1000/µL Monocytes Monocytes % A.C.Monocytes Monocytes 1000/µL EOS Eosinophils % A.C.Eosinophils Eosinophils 1000/µL Basophil Basophils % A.C.Basophils Basophils 1000/µL Glucose Glucose mg/dL BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen mg/dL Creatinine Creatinine mg/dL BUN.Creatinine Blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio Uric.Acid Uric Acid mg/dL Sodium Sodium mEq/L Potassium Potassium mEq/L Chloride Chloride mEq/L CO2 Carbon dioxide mEq/L Protein Protein g/dL Albumin Albumin g/dL Globulins Globulins g/dL A.G.Ratio Albumin to globulin ratio Calcium Calcium mg/dL Inorg.Phos Inorganic Phosphate mg/dL Alk.Phos Alkaline Phosphatase U/L LDH Lactacte dehydrogenase U/L AST Aspartate aminotransferase U/L ALT Alanine aminotransferase U/L GGT Gamma-glutamyl transferase U/L Bilirubin Bilirubin mg/dL Cholesterol Cholesterol mg/dL Triglyceride Triglycerides mg/dL Iron Iron µg/dL CPK Creatinine Kinase U/L SED.60 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate GFR Glomerular filtration rate mL/min

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