Search

Hematology and blood chemistry tests constitute an easy-to-apply veterinary tool that evaluates an organism's systemic functioning and disease process by comparing the level of specific analytes against species norms. Such analyses help monitor marine mammals' health and nutritional status. Although reference values have been published for a few manatee populations, there are none for Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Colombia. We aim to establish the reference values for hematology and serum chemistries for these manatees and determine if there are variations between individuals of different age groups and sex. Thus, we obtained whole blood and serum samples from 45 rehabilitated manatees from Colombia between 1992 and 2021. Complete Blood Count and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel values were calculated, and differences between age groups and sex were determined. Results were compared with published reference intervals of other Antillean manatee populations, Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), and Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis) from Brazil. We determined the reference intervals of hematology and serum chemistry for manatees in Colombia for different age and sex categories. No relevant clinical variations were found in hematological parameters due to sex. Marked differences were found between age groups, mainly among young animals with an expected faster metabolism. There were significant variations between hematological and blood chemistry values when the Colombian manatees were compared to manatees from Puerto Rico and Amazonian manatees from Brazil. Such variations are likely influenced by evolutionary history and environmental factors associated with differences in habitat salinity and diet. We recommend that future studies correlate these blood tests with specific panels. We further recommend conducting wild manatee health assessments as this information will yield essential data for species management schemes needed due to the multiple anthropogenic and environmental threats that manatees face today which put the Colombian manatee's health and ultimate survival at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antillean manatee ( I Trichechus manatus manatus i ; hereafter "manatee") ranges from Mexico and the Bahamas south to Brazil and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN (Self-Sullivan & Mignucci-Giannoni, [56]). The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) along the Caribbean coast of Colombia: underused incidental records help identify present and past coastal-lowland hotspots Detailed studies by others into habitat selection by manatees (e.g., Caicedo-Herrera et al., [9]; Mahecha, [38]), would suggest that the current distribution of manatees neither accurately reflects the historical distributional nor the innate distributional preference of manatees. Análisis del estado de la población de manatí Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Sirenia) en la Vía Parque isla de Salamanca, (Magdalena-Colombia) [Analysis of the status of the manatee population Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Sirenia) in the Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca, (Magdalena-Colombia)] [Bachelor thesis]. [Extracted from the article]

The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) are distributed in rivers in the Caribbean and Amazonian region of Colombia respectively. For 30 years, genetic information has been obtained from these populations in order to inform conservation programs for these endangered species and decide on the location to release them back to the wild. However, in previous studies, samples from rivers in some areas of the country were not included, given the difficulties to access these regions due to either logistic or safety issues. In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) sequences of from samples of T. manatus (n = 37) and T. inunguis (n = 4) (410 and 361 bp, respectively), obtained in new and previously unexplored rivers and bays in the country, including Santa Marta, Urabá Gulf, Ayapel Marsh (San Jorge River Basin), Meta River and Magdalena Medio and the low Magdalena River (Cesar Province and Canal del Dique) as well as additional samples from Puerto Nariño in the Colombian Amazon. Our results included the discovery of two newly described mtDNA CR haplotypes for T. manatus. In addition, we confirmed significant population differentiation at the mitochondrial level between the Magdalena and Sinú rivers and differentiation among areas of the same river, including the middle and low Magdalena River. This differentiation may be related to anthropic changes in the river since construction of the Canal del Dique in the XVI century. We also tested environmental DNA sampling and analyses techniques to evaluate its potential use for manatee detection and monitoring in bodies of water in Colombia, in order to evaluate new areas for future manatee conservation initiatives. We emphasize the need to continue using genetic information to provide evidence on the potential best locations to undertake animal release to prevent outbreeding depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To describe results of analysis of free-catch urine samples collected from Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) under human care in the Caribbean. ANIMALS 32 Antillean manatees in 5 Caribbean oceanaria and rescue centers. PROCEDURES Urine samples were obtained by opportunistic free catch during physical examination or through the use of operant conditioning procedures. Urinalyses consisted of macro- and microscopic evaluations, biochemical analyses with test strips, and refractometry. Results were compared for maiatees grouped on the basis of age, sex, and habitat. RESULTS Urine samples were typically clear, straw colored, and alkaline (mean pH, 8.0); had a urinoid odor and low specific gravity (mean, 1.010); and had resub on qualitative test strips that were consistently negative for the prese nce of glucose, bilirubin, ketones, proteins, nitrites, RBCs, and WBCs. Microscopically, the mean + SD number of RBCs and WBCs/hpf was 0.5 * 0.3 RBCs/hpfand 1.1 * 1.5 WBCs/hpf. The presence of some epithelial cel s and crystals was typical. Spermatozoa were found in urine from I of 15 sexually mature males, and parasite larvae and eggs were found in urine from 2 manatees. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the present studyyielded the first compilation of baseline urinalysis valles in healthy Antillean manatees under human care, which, when combined with physical examination and other diagnostic procedures, can help in mcnitoring the health of these animals. We encourage the use of free-catch urile collection methods, as used in the present study, for routine urinalyses of -nanatees under human care in zoos, aquaria, or rescue centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]