12/16/09

Good News and Bad News

Hi all,

There's good news and bad news today. I'm sorry to report that we lost #16 last night. Dr. Cavin was still working on him at the time I wrote last night's blog. After we lost him, Dr. Cavin performed a necropsy (animal autopsy) to see if we could learn why he died. She discovered that his lungs were severely diseased. She took cultures of the lung tissue and sent them to the lab for analysis. She also took photos so the rest of the Rescue staff and the Animal Health staff could see the extent of the disease. I will not include those due to their graphic nature.

On the good news front, #85 (the little Kemp's Ridley on the "surf board") is still with us. He was a little more active today but still having issues with his breathing. His blood work looks a little better, however the breathing issue is very concerning. His condition is still listed as critical at this point. He spent the day alternating between supervised swims, floating on his foam pad and resting in a sea turtle transport box.


In the photo on the left #85 takes a supervised swim in the pool. In the photo on the right he rests in a sea turtle transport box.

The other case I highlighted last night is also still with us. Number 57 began specialized treatments today for his pneumonia and will be nebulized twice a day until the vets discontinue that treatment. I'll post photos of this treatment tomorrow.


Number 57 swims in a hospital pool in the medical center.

Two new turtles arrived this evening, #117 and #118. Both are Kemp's ridley sea turtles and were alert and responsive despite the fact that their core body temperatures were in the high 40s (F).


Dr. Innis obtains a heart rate from #117 using an ultrasound machine.


At left, Kate examines #118 upon arrival to the Aquarium. Number 118 presented with what appears to be trauma to both eyes and nares (nostril region on a sea turtle). The photo on the right shows the extent of the swelling.

- Connie

Click here to find out what you can do to help the New England Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Team.

subscribe


Labels: , , , , , , ,



11/10/09

The tiny world of marine animal diagnostics

Part of the rehabilitation process on our animals is collecting blood and fecal samples. Through various diagnostics we can determine many issues that an animal may have.


Acadia the rescued loggerhead sea turtle


Above Jen gets ready to draw blood from Acadia. Clockwise left of Jen are Charlie's arm, Courtney, Glennon and Kendra.

For Acadia our loggerhead sea turtle we were concerned about her anemia and by looking at a blood smear we were able to see that she was producing new red blood cells that will help with the anemic issue. The cool thing about reptile red blood cells is that they contain a nucleus unlike mammals that lose their nucleus in the blood marrow during erythropoiesis. Other blood smears may show lots of white blood cells (WBC) which may indicate an infection our Kemp's ridley Crater lake had an extremely high WBC count.


The photo on the left shows the loggerheads bood smear. The yellow arrow is pointing to an immature red blood cell. Note the darker color and condensed look of the cell in comparison to the other red blood cells. The picture on the right is mammalian red blood cells taken from histologyonline.com.

We also examine fecal samples under the microscope as well to check for possible parasitic infestations. Jen another biologist with the rescue group collected a sample from Acadia and went and looked at it under the microscope in the Aquarium Medical Center with Katie the AMC veterinary technician. They were able to find some cool things.


Above left is a copepod (more about copepods from the Right Whale Team here and here). Most likely this was swimming in the water. One problem with aquatic animals is obtaining a "clean" fecal sample as unless it is a formed piece or the animal is out of the water you may get other critters as well. The above right is a ciliate again possibly from the water but may have been in the feces. They also saw some nematodes but those were too fast to be captured by the microscopes camera. Nematodes are a typical gastrointestinal (GI) parasite in adult sea turtles. Because of their presence Acadia got a deworming oral treatment the following day.

Acadia continues to do very well!

-Adam


subscribe

Labels: , , , , , , , ,



10/17/09

How do you like your calamari? Acadia lets us know her preference!

Acadia, the loggerhead sea turtle, is adjusting well to her tank. We took her out on Thursday to run blood work, do an exam, and give more fluids. Getting her out of the pool is no easy task!


Kate Sardi, Rescue Department senior biologist, and Eric Payne, Animal Health Department biologist, put on dry suits and courageously went into the tank to help Acadia out.


While Acadia was out of her tank and after we received results from taking her blood, we performed an exam and gave her more fluids.

Then she was placed back in her tank (a much easier process than getting her out). Our next task was to start feeding. Usually turtles are slow to start eating so it was no surprise that she turned her back on the herring I offered later that afternoon.

By Friday afternoon, Acadia decided squid was her preference and began to eat. No need to fry or grill calamari for her, she takes it raw! Today she even began to eat whole herring. This is an excellent sign!



We will check her bloodwork again early next week and continue to monitor her progress. Check back for updates!

~Kerry


subscribe


Labels: , , ,