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Gerlach, Trevor J.; Estrada, Amara H.; Sosa, Ivan S.; Powell, Melanie; Maisenbacher, Herbert W.; De Wit, Martine; Ball, Ray L.; Walsh, Michael T.
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2013a |
Echocardiographic evaluation of clinically healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
Jour. Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 44(2): 295-301. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2012-0109R.1. June 2013.
–ABSTRACT: Antemortem studies pertaining to the manatee cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems are limited despite reports of cardiac disease in postmortem specimens. The objective of this project was to develop a technique for echocardiography in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Because of their unique anatomy, a ventral approach was employed by use of an echocardiography table designed specifically for this study. Fourteen clinically healthy, free-ranging and captive Florida manatees underwent echocardiography between the fall of 2011 and winter of 2012. Eight females and six males of various age categories were included in the study. Clear visualization of all valves and chambers was accomplished, and length and width measurements of the left atrium, peak aortic flow velocity, and ejection fraction percentage were calculated in most animals. Abnormalities observed during the study included atrioventricular regurgitation and severe right-atrial enlargement. Based on the results of this study, echocardiography in the Florida manatee is possible, which has both clinical and research implications in larger epidemiologic studies evaluating diseases of the cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular systems.
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Gerlach, Trevor J.; Sadler, Valerie M.; Ball, Ray L.
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2013b |
Conservative management of pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum in two Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
Jour. Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 44(4): 996-1001. 3 figs. DOI:10.1638/2012-0136R3.1. Dec. 2013.
–ABSTRACT: Two distressed Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) were reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The first animal was determined to be an abandoned, emaciated calf. The second animal was a nursing calf that had sustained watercraft-related trauma. Both animals were captured and transported to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, where diagnostic evaluations, including physical examinations, blood work, computed tomography (CT), and radiographs were performed. Radiograph and CT scans identified the presence of free air within the pleural and abdominal cavities of both animals. Based on the lack of substantial findings in the first animal and a rapid resolution of clinical signs in the second animal, both animals were managed conservatively. This report documents simultaneous pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum, the associated clinical and diagnostic findings, and conservative medical management of these conditions in the Florida manatee.
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Gerlach, Trevor J.; Estrada, Amara H.; Sosa, Ivan S.; Powell, Melanie; Lamb, Kenneth E.; Ball, Ray L.; de Wit, Martine; Walsh, Mike T.
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2015 |
Establishment of echocardiographic parameters of clinically healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46 (2):205-212. 5 tables. 4 figures. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2014-0071R1.1. JUN 2015.
–ABSTRACT: A standardized echocardiographic technique was recently established for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). There are no available published data on normal echocardiographic parameters in any Sirenian species. The purpose of this study was to report reference parameters for various echocardiographic measurements. These parameters are intended to serve as a comparison for future research into the prevalence of cardiac diseases in the manatee and to aid in diagnosing animals with suspected cardiac disease in rehabilitation facilities. Annual health assessments of free-ranging manatees in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, and pre-release health assessments of rehabilitated manatees at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo permitted comparison of echocardiographic measurements in adult (n = 14), subadult (n = 7), and calf (n = 8) animals under manual restraint.
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Smith, Lauren N.; Rotstein, David S.; Ball, Ray L.; Gerlach, Trevor J.; Kinsel, Michael; Rodriguez, Maya; de Wit, Martine
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2015 |
Reproductive neoplasms in wild and long-term captive female Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE 46 (4):895-903. 1 table. 5 figures. DOI: 10.1638/2014-0195.1. December 2015.
–Abstract- Few reports of neoplastic diseases in manatees exist in the veterinary literature. This case series presents reproductive neoplasia noted in eight wild and long-term captive female Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) obtained through carcass recovery and animal rehabilitation programs between April 2009 and May 2014. All cases were evaluated histologically, and diagnoses of uterine carcinoma (n = 1), granulosa cell tumor (n = 2), ovarian adnexal tumor (n = 1), and leiomyoma (n = 5) were made. The underlying cause of tumor development and effects on reproductive success is currently unknown, but possible asymmetric reproductive aging and/or a correlation between obesity and reproductive disorder in long-term nonreproductive female manatees are of interest and warrant further investigation.
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Walsh, Catherine J.; Butawan, Matthew; Yordy, Jennifer; Ball, Ray; Flewelling, Leanne; De Wit, Martine; Bonde, Robert K.
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2015 |
Sublethal red tide toxin exposure in free-ranging manatees (Trichechus manatus) affects the immune system through reduced lymphocyte proliferation responses, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Aquatic Toxicology 161: 73-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2015.01.019
–ABSTRACT: The health of many Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is adversely affected by exposure to blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. K. brevis blooms are common in manatee habitats off Florida's southwestern coast and produce a group of cyclic polyether toxins collectively referred to as red tide toxins, or brevetoxins. Although a large number of manatees exposed to significant levels of red tide toxins die, several manatees are rescued from sublethal exposure and are successfully treated and returned to the wild. Sublethal brevetoxin exposure may potentially impact the manatee immune system. Lymphocyte proliferative responses and a suite of immune function parameters in the plasma were used to evaluate effects of brevetoxin exposure on health of manatees rescued from natural exposure to red tide toxins in their habitat. Blood samples were collected from rescued manatees at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL and from healthy, unexposed manatees in Crystal River, FL. Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) isolated from whole blood were stimulated with T-cell mitogens, ConA and PHA. A suite of plasma parameters, including plasma protein electrophoresis profiles, lysozyme activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and reactive oxygen/nitrogen (ROS/RNS) species, was also used to assess manatee health. Significant decreases (P < 0.05) in lymphocyte proliferation were observed in ConA and PHA stimulated lymphocytes from rescued animals compared to non-exposed animals. Significant correlations were observed between oxidative stress markers (SOD, ROS/RNS) and plasma brevetoxin concentrations. Sublethal exposure to brevetoxins in the wild impacts some immune function components, and thus overall health, in the Florida manatee.
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Bibliography and Index of the Sirenia and Desmostylia 