Evaluation of changes in hematologic and clinical biochemical values afterexposure to petroleum products in mink (Mustela vison) as a model for assessment of sea otters (Enhydra lutris)

Objective-To determine the effects of petroleum exposure on hematologic and clinical biochemical results of mink and to identify variables that may be useful for making management decisions involving sea otters (Enhydra lutri s) that have been exposed to oil in their environment. Animals-122 American mink (Mustela vison). Procedures-Mink were exposed once to a slick of oil (Alaskan North Slope cr ude oil or bunker C fuel oil) on seawater or via low-level contamination of their daily rations. Results-in the acute phase of exposure, petroleum directly affected RBC, WB C, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, fibrinogen, sodium, calcium, creatini ne, total protein, and cholesterol concentrations, and alanine transaminase , creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase acti vities. Aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransfe rase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities and cholesterol concentration al so varied as a result of chronic low-level contamination of feed. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Our results are in agreement with report s that attribute increased alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase ac tivities and decreased total protein concentration to petroleum exposure in sea otters during an oil spill. Sodium, calcium, creatinine, cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase may be valuable variables to assess for guidance during initial treatment of sea otters exposed to oil spills as well as for predicting which petroleum-exposed sea otters will reproduce following an oil spill. Measurement of these variables should aid wildlife professionals in making decisions regarding treatment of sea otters after oil spills.