Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 April 1988 HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY VALUES IN THE BELUGA (DELPHINAPTERUS LEUCAS)
L. H. Cornell, D. S. Duffield, B. E. Joseph, B. Stark
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Normal values and ranges for 31 clinical hematology and serum chemistry tests are reported for the beluga or white whale (Delphinapterus leucas). The values were collected over a 6-yr period from eight belugas maintained for display at Sea World (San Diego, California, USA) facilities and represent long-term evaluations for each animal in a controlled environment. They represent the first report for a number of serum chemistry values for the beluga. Normal values such as these provide an important data base from which to detect diagnostically important changes in health status for belugas in a zoological setting. They also establish a baseline from which to evaluate differences in normal values in free-ranging belugas and from which to diagnose disease problems in wild populations.

Cornell, Duffield, Joseph, and Stark: HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY VALUES IN THE BELUGA (DELPHINAPTERUS LEUCAS)
L. H. Cornell, D. S. Duffield, B. E. Joseph, and B. Stark "HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY VALUES IN THE BELUGA (DELPHINAPTERUS LEUCAS)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 24(2), 220-224, (1 April 1988). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-24.2.220
Received: 5 June 1987; Published: 1 April 1988
KEYWORDS
beluga whale
captive study
Delphinapterus leucas
hematology
normal values
serum chemistry
Back to Top