Michael T. Walsh, DVM; Lanny H. Cornell, DVM; Edward D. Asper; Glenn Young;
J.P. Bedurka, DVM
Whole blood samples were taken from the fluke veins of 21 healthy
dolphin Tursiops truncatus and placed in heparin tubes for element analysis.
Utilizing an ARL 34,000 vacuum inductively coupled plasma emissions spectrometer, each
sample was analyzed for 22 separate elements to establish a normal range of these elements
for potential future clinical reference. Those elements analyzed for were: calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, chromium, phosphorous,
selenium, silicon, sulfur, strontium, barium, cadmium, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, lithium,
vanadium, and zirconium. Gender differences in base line levels as well as differences
related to age will be discussed. The levels in Tursiops will be compared to other cetacean
species.