Abstract

No reference values are currently available in fish to evaluate blood coagulation using dynamic viscoelastic coagulometry (DVC). Similar to mammals, hemostatic disorders can be caused by various factors in fish, including vitamin K deficiency, toxic causes, or liver failure. Intra- or postoperative hemorrhage has been previously reported in fish housed in zoological institutions, demonstrating the relevance of assessing fish coagulation during preoperative work-up.^1,2 Although prothrombin and thromboplastin times are reported in fish, these tests are not easily performed in field conditions. Using a point-of-care analyzer would, therefore, be relevant for fish patients. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the feasibility of DVC in red devil fish (Cichlasoma citrinellum), 2) to establish reference ranges of coagulation parameters if relevant according to the value of the individuality index for this species, and 3) to compare the coagulation profile activated by glass beads or by thromboplastin extracted from fish brain tissue. Blood samples were obtained from healthy red devil fish and analyzed with the Sonoclot® (Sienco, Boulder, CO, USA) device using glass beads (gb) or fish thromboplastin coagulation activators. Activated clotting time (ACT), clot rate (CR), and platelet function (PF) were determined using fresh whole blood. Intra-individual and analytical variabilities were assessed to calculate the individuality index for each parameter (gbACT, gbCR, PF, thromboplastin ACT, thromboplastin CR). The ACT and CR values were compared between the two activators (glass beads or fish thromboplastin) using paired Mann-Whitney tests. This study will provide fish veterinarians with an additional diagnostic tool to evaluate coagulation.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Corinne Genereux from the chromatography laboratory of the Université de Montréal, Sienco Inc., and the Aquarium du Québec for their financial contribution to this project through a research grant.

*Presenting author

Literature Cited

1.  Tavares-Dias M, Oliveira SR. A review of the blood coagulation system of fish. Braz J Biol Sci. 2009;7(2).

2.  Perry S. Diagnosis and management of multricentric lymphosarcoma in a cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus). In: Proceedings of the IAAAM 52nd Annual Conference; 2022; virtual.