SeaWorld Cleveland, Aurora OH, USA; Present address: Columbus Zoo, Powell
OH, USA
Abstract
Urine and blood samples were collected concomitantly (within one half hour of each other), after an overnight fast, from eight, apparently healthy, female killer whales (Orcinus orca), ranging in age from seven to thirty three years. Midstream urine was collected behaviorally after drying the genital area with a clean towel. Blood was collected from the fluke veins in the normal fashion. A total of sixty six samples were collected over a period of two years. Urinalysis concomitant with blood evaluation, should be part of the medical workup of any cetacean where collection is possible. The values generated in this report can be used as a reference. Future studies are needed to determine the usefulness of concurrent blood and urine values to evaluate hydration status, primary renal disease (e.g., renal calculi), and mariposia, as well as to determine the usefulness of calculated fractional excretions in this and other cetacean species.
Urinalysis
|
Parameter
|
Result
|
|
Color (visual)
|
Yellow (100%)
|
|
Character (visual)
|
Clear (100%)
|
|
Specific Gravity (refractometer)
|
1.034 (Mean)
|
|
Nitrite (dipstick)
|
Negative (100%)
|
|
PH (dipstick)
|
5.6 (Mean)
|
|
Protein (dipstick)
|
Negative (67%). Trace (33%)
|
|
Glucose (dipstick)
|
Negative (100%)
|
|
Ketones (dipstick)
|
Negative (100%)
|
|
Urobilinogen (dipstick)
|
Normal (100%)
|
|
Bilirubin (dipstick)
|
Negative (100%)
|
|
Blood (dipstick)
|
Negative (67%). Trace (33%)
|
|
WBC (sediment exam)
|
Negative (65%). 0-1/HPF (33%). 2-3/HPF (2%).
|
|
RBC (sediment exam)
|
Negative (57%). 0-1/HPF (39%). 2-10/HPF (4%).
|
|
Casts (sediment exam)
|
None (94%). Hyaline 0-2/HPF (4%).
|
| |
Granular 0-2/HPF (2%)
|
|
Crystals (sediment exam)
|
None (100%)
|
|
Other (sediment exam)
|
Squamous epithelial cells 0-2/HPF (85%).
|
Urine Chemistry
|
Parameter
|
Mean
|
Range
|
|
Glucose (mg/dl)
|
8
|
4-13
|
|
Urea nitrogen (mg/dl)
|
2298
|
1101-4868
|
|
Creatinine (mg/dl)
|
183
|
55-430
|
|
GGT (U/L)
|
36
|
15-69
|
|
LDH (U/L)
|
17
|
7-36
|
|
Calcium (mg/dl)
|
12
|
1.6-22.0
|
|
Sodium (mEq/L)
|
216
|
79-510
|
|
Potassium (mEq/L)
|
62
|
35-119
|
|
Chloride (mEq/L)
|
257
|
134-351
|
|
Uric acid (mg/dl)
|
5.8
|
2.1-23.3
|
|
Urine osmolality (mOsmols/L)
|
1455
|
934-1897
|
Blood Values
|
Parameter
|
Mean
|
Range
|
|
Hematocrit (%)
|
43
|
39-45
|
|
NRBC/100WBC
|
0
|
0-1
|
|
Reticulocytes (%)
|
1
|
0-1.9
|
|
WBC (mm3)
|
5966
|
3800-9400
|
|
ESR @ 60
|
0
|
0-2
|
|
Fibrinogen (mg/dl)
|
231
|
153-398
|
|
Glucose (mg/dl)
|
107
|
87-125
|
|
Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dl)
|
38
|
28-55
|
|
Creatinine (mg/dl)
|
1.8
|
1.1-2.3
|
|
Total bilirubin (mg/dl)
|
0.1
|
0.0-0.2
|
|
Total serum protein (gm/dl)
|
6.2
|
5.3-6.8
|
|
GGT (U/L)
|
14
|
7-47
|
|
LD (L/D)
|
330
|
220-436
|
|
Calcium (mg/dl)
|
8.2
|
7.4-9.0
|
|
Sodium (mEq/L)
|
154
|
151-158
|
|
Potassium (mEq/L)
|
4.0
|
3.6-4.5
|
|
Chloride (mEq/L)
|
121
|
116-132
|
|
Serum osmolarity (mOsmols/L)
|
333
|
331-353
|