Normal morphology of elephant leukocytes.

<p>1: Mature heterophil, 2: Mature heterophil with Barr body in a female elephant (sex chromatin lobe), 3–4: eosinophils, 5–6: basophils, 7–8: small lymphocytes, 9: monocyte, 10–20: unique monocyte type of elephants with various stages of segmentation; note that less segmented monocytes may be misidentified as lymphocytes. 21–25: degenerative changes in leukocytes in blood films prepared 24 hr after collection, including 21: heterophil with nuclear and cytoplasmic swelling, 22: monocyte with swollen nucleus, 23–25: karyorrhexis and pyknosis in leukocytes. X100 objective. Wright Giemsa stain.</p

Heterophil left-shifting and variably toxicity in an Asian elephant with gastrointestinal disease for demonstration of the size variation from concurrent secondary dysgranulopoiesis (giant cells).

<p>X100 objective. Wright Giemsa stain.</p

Abnormal morphology of elephant leukocytes.

<p>Legend: 1–2: Band heterophils, 3: heterophilic myelocyte, 4–6: hypersegmented heterophils, 7–16: reactive lymphocytes, 17: plasma cell, 18–25: activated monocytes with variable vacuolation. X100 objective. Wright Giemsa stain.</p

Overview of qualitative leukocyte morphological changes observed in blood films at initial sampling from 27 elephants with inflammatory conditions.

<p>Overview of qualitative leukocyte morphological changes observed in blood films at initial sampling from 27 elephants with inflammatory conditions.</p

Heterophil left-shifting and variable toxicity in elephant blood films.

<p>1–6: Mature heterophils, 7–12: band heterophils, 13–20: heterophilic metamyelocytes, 21–25: heterophilic myelocytes. Grading of toxicity on a scale of 1+ (Doehle bodies, slight basophilia), 2+ (Doehle bodies, moderate basophilia), and 3+ (cytoplasmic foaminess (dark blue cytoplasm, Doehle bodies may or may not be visible) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0185277#pone.0185277.ref004" target="_blank">4</a>]. 1+ toxicity is present in 1, 7; 2+ toxicity is present in 2, 3, 8, 10, 13–15, 17–19, 22–24; 3+ toxicity is present in 4–6, 9, 11–12, 16, 20–21, 25. X100 objective. Wright Giemsa stain.</p

Chronic debilitation in stranded loggerhead sea turtles (<i>Caretta caretta</i>) in the southeastern United States: Morphometrics and clinicopathological findings

<div><p>Chronically debilitated loggerhead sea turtles (<i>Caretta caretta</i>) (DT) are characterized by emaciation, lethargy, and heavy barnacle coverage. Although histopathological findings associated with this condition have been reported, only limited data is available on health variables with clinical application. The objectives of this study were to 1) to compare morphometrics, clinicopathological variables, and immune functions of DTs to a group of apparently healthy loggerhead turtles to better understand the pathophysiology of the condition and 2) to assess health parameters in live debilitated turtles as they recovered during rehabilitation in order to identify potential prognostic indicators. We examined and sampled 43 DTs stranded from North Carolina to Florida for 47 health variables using standardized protocols to further characterize the condition. DTs were grouped into categories of severity of the condition, and those that survived were sampled at four time points through rehabilitation. All groups and time points were compared among DTs and to clinically healthy loggerhead turtles. Compared to healthy turtles, DTs had significantly lower body condition index, packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocytes, glucose (Glc), total protein, all protein fractions as determined by electrophoresis, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Ca:P ratio, potassium (K), lymphocyte proliferation, and greater heterophil toxicity and left-shifting, uric acid (UA), aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lysozyme, and respiratory burst. From admission to recovery, hematology and plasma chemistry data improved as expected. The most informative prognostic indicators, as determined by correlations with a novel severity indicator (based on survival times), were plastron concavity, P, albumin, total solids, UA, lymphocyte proliferation, WBC, K, Glc, Ca:P, and PCV. The results of this study document the wide range and extent of morphometric and metabolic derangements in chronically debilitated turtles. Monitoring morphometrics and clinicopathological variables of these animals is essential for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis during rehabilitation.</p></div

Diagram of severity indicator with five case examples of debilitated loggerhead sea turtles.

<p>Images show turtles at time of admission.</p

Comparison of immune function variables measured in debilitated loggerhead sea turtles (DTs) before and during rehabilitation and compared to healthy loggerhead turtles (means and one standard deviation).

<p>Each turtle group on the x-axis was significantly different (p<0.05 or p<0.00883 for repeated measures) from groups represented by letters above data. (A) lymphocyte proliferation with ConA; (B) lymphocyte proliferation with PHA; (C) respiratory burst with Ca ionophore; and (D) lysozyme activity. Lines represent an individual turtle through rehabilitation. For samples sizes in each diagram, please refer to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0200355#pone.0200355.s007" target="_blank">S4 Table</a>.</p

Health variables that significantly correlated with the severity indicator in debilitated loggerhead sea turtles (DTs).

<p>Spearman rank correlation coefficients and p-values are shown. (A) plastron concavity; (B) packed cell volume (PCV); (C) glucose; (D) phosphorus; (E) albumin by bromocresol green method; (F) albumin by plasma electrophoresis; (G) B-lymphocyte proliferation.</p

Comparison of plastron concavity measured in debilitated loggerhead sea turtles (DTs) before and during rehabilitation and compared to healthy loggerhead turtles (means and one standard deviation).

<p>Lines represent an individual turtle through rehabilitation. Each turtle group on the x-axis was significantly different (p<0.05 or p<0.00883 for repeated measures) from groups represented by letters above data. Sample size for each group: 15 [X], 9 [Y], 6 [A]–[D], 1[H].</p