Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Evaluation and use of a portable field kit for measuring whole-blood lactate in sharks

C. A. Awruch A C , C. Simpfendorfer A and N. W. Pankhurst B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre, School of Earth and Environmental Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.

B Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: Cynthia.Awruch@jcu.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 62(6) 694-699 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF10149
Submitted: 18 June 2010  Accepted: 1 April 2011   Published: 24 June 2011

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2011 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Measurement of lactate is becoming a common procedure in assessing the physiological effects of capture stress in sharks, although the necessity to measure the concentrations in the laboratory limits the ability for field assessments. Portable lactate analysers offer an alternative, but await validation against laboratory assays for sharks. The present study assessed the reliability of a portable Lactate Pro analyser for measuring whole-blood lactate in the school shark, Galeorhinus galeus, in the field. Laboratory determination of whole-blood and plasma lactate obtained by spectrophotometry was highly correlated with field determinations. Because shark lactate concentration can exceed the upper detection limit of the portable analysers, which were designed for mammalian use, a method for dealing with values greater than the maximum detection limit was evaluated. Whole-blood diluted by 50% with acidified saline solution, tap water and distilled water gave measured values of 55, 56 and 52%, respectively, of the original values, allowing accurate estimation of concentrations exceeding the upper detection limit of the analyser. These findings indicated that the Lactate Pro can be used to rapidly and reliably measure lactate for sharks in the field.

Additional keywords: elasmobranchs, plasma lactate, portable analyser, stressors.


References

Acierno, M. J., and Mitchell, M. A. (2007). Evaluation of four point-of-care meters for rapid determination of blood lactate concentrations in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 230, 1315–1318.
Evaluation of four point-of-care meters for rapid determination of blood lactate concentrations in dogs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXotVCmsbk%3D&md5=6ec1d15d7bd10b797c5b89af11791045CAS | 17472555PubMed |

Altman, D. G., and Bland, J. M. (1983). Measurement in medicine – the analysis of method comparison studies. The Statistician 32, 307–317.
Measurement in medicine – the analysis of method comparison studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Atkinson, G., and Nevill, A. M. (1998). Statistical methods for assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine. Sports Medicine 26, 217–238.
Statistical methods for assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FjvVelsQ%3D%3D&md5=eeed0f7c66a5759a48adb31535dd4a1fCAS | 9820922PubMed |

Baldwin, J., and Wells, R. M. G. (1990). Oxygen-transport potential in tropical elasmobranchs from the Great Barrier Reef – relationship between hematology and blood-viscosity. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 144, 145–155.
Oxygen-transport potential in tropical elasmobranchs from the Great Barrier Reef – relationship between hematology and blood-viscosity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bland, J. M., and Altman, D. G. (1995). Comparing methods of measurement – why plotting difference against standard method is misleading. Lancet 346, 1085–1087.
Comparing methods of measurement – why plotting difference against standard method is misleading.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK28%2FisF2gsw%3D%3D&md5=9d9307b3c2281996eddb2de96ecae52fCAS | 7564793PubMed |

Bland, J. M., and Altman, D. G. (1999). Measuring agreement in method comparison studies. Statistical Methods in Medical Research 8, 135–160.
Measuring agreement in method comparison studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1MvivFOmug%3D%3D&md5=1c73797c369a8a367e99bd8eaec127e1CAS | 10501650PubMed |

Brill, R., Bushnell, P., Schroff, S., Seifert, R., and Galvin, M. (2008). Effects of anaerobic exercise accompanying catch-and-release fishing on blood-oxygen affinity of the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus, Nardo). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 354, 132–143.
Effects of anaerobic exercise accompanying catch-and-release fishing on blood-oxygen affinity of the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus, Nardo).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown, J. A., Watson, J., Bourhill, A., and Wall, T. (2008). Evaluation and use of the Lactate Pro, a portable lactate meter, in monitoring the physiological well-being of farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Aquaculture 285, 135–140.
Evaluation and use of the Lactate Pro, a portable lactate meter, in monitoring the physiological well-being of farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtl2qtb3I&md5=8c648ed584db3f7a879ef374ed9eca3fCAS |

Cliff, G., and Thurman, G. D. (1984). Pathological and physiological effects of stress during capture and transport in the juvenile dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscurus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 78A, 167–173.
| 1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXksFaiu7s%3D&md5=986bfee1bb865b77a6aa8ee90c963facCAS |

Cooke, S. J., Suski, C. D., Danylchuk, S. E., Danylchuk, A. J., Donaldson, M. R., et al. (2008). Effects of different capture techniques on the physiological condition of bonefish Albula vulpes evaluated using field diagnostic tools. Journal of Fish Biology 73, 1351–1375.
Effects of different capture techniques on the physiological condition of bonefish Albula vulpes evaluated using field diagnostic tools.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtlyju7bF&md5=40f1cae2e1ed27afa103fffe6e9a6689CAS |

Cooper, A. R., and Morris, S. (1998). The blood respiratory, haematological, acid-base and ionic status of the Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, during recovery from anaesthesia and surgery: a comparison with sampling by direct caudal puncture. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 119, 895–903.
The blood respiratory, haematological, acid-base and ionic status of the Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, during recovery from anaesthesia and surgery: a comparison with sampling by direct caudal puncture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dulvy, N. K., Baum, J. K., Clarke, S., Compagno, L. J. V., Cortés, E., et al. (2008). You can swim but you can’t hide: the global status and conservation of oceanic pelagic sharks and rays. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18, 459–482.
You can swim but you can’t hide: the global status and conservation of oceanic pelagic sharks and rays.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Frick, L. H., Reina, R. D., and Walker, T. I. (2009). The physiological response of Port Jackson sharks and Australian swellsharks to sedation, gill-net capture, and repeated sampling in captivity. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29, 127–139.
The physiological response of Port Jackson sharks and Australian swellsharks to sedation, gill-net capture, and repeated sampling in captivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Harrenstien, L. A., Tornquist, S. J., Miller-Morgan, T. J., Fodness, B. G., and Clifford, K. E. (2005). Evaluation of a point-of-care blood analyzer and determination of reference ranges for blood parameters in rockfish. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 226, 255–265.
Evaluation of a point-of-care blood analyzer and determination of reference ranges for blood parameters in rockfish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15706978PubMed |

Hight, B. V., Holts, D., Graham, J. B., Kennedy, B. P., Taylor, V., et al. (2007). Plasma catecholamine levels as indicators of the post-release survivorship of juvenile pelagic sharks caught on experimental drift longlines in the Southern California Bight. Marine and Freshwater Research 58, 145–151.
Plasma catecholamine levels as indicators of the post-release survivorship of juvenile pelagic sharks caught on experimental drift longlines in the Southern California Bight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtVeju7k%3D&md5=3ef26af70dee5633d6bffcdc82180e3aCAS |

Hoffmayer, E. R., and Parsons, G. R. (2001). The physiological response to capture and handling stress in the Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 25, 277–285.
The physiological response to capture and handling stress in the Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lai, N. C., Korsmeyer, K. E., Katz, S., Holts, D. B., Laughlin, L. M., et al. (1997). Hemodynamics and blood properties of the shortfin Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Copeia 1997, 424–428.
Hemodynamics and blood properties of the shortfin Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mandelman, J. W., and Farrington, M. A. (2007). The physiological status and mortality associated with otter-trawl capture, transport, and captivity of an exploited elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias. ICES Journal of Marine Science 64, 122–130.
The physiological status and mortality associated with otter-trawl capture, transport, and captivity of an exploited elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXmtl2itL8%3D&md5=5528dfef66acd3b24afc9e2adc5a33f6CAS |

Mandelman, J. W., and Skomal, G. (2009). Differential sensitivity to capture stress assessed by blood acid–base status in five carcharhinid sharks. Journal of Comparative Physiology Part B 179, 267–277.
Differential sensitivity to capture stress assessed by blood acid–base status in five carcharhinid sharks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Manire, C. A., Hueter, R. E., Hull, E., and Spieler, R. (2001). Serological changes associated with gill-net capture and restraint in three species of sharks. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130, 1038–1048.
Serological changes associated with gill-net capture and restraint in three species of sharks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moyes, C. D., Fragoso, N., Musyl, M. K., and Brill, R. W. (2006). Predicting postrelease survival in large pelagic fish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 135, 1389–1397.
Predicting postrelease survival in large pelagic fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Quinn, G. P., and Keough, M. J. (2002). ‘Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Skomal, G. B. (2007). Evaluating the physiological and physical consequences of capture on post-release survivorship in large pelagic fishes. Fisheries Management and Ecology 14, 81–89.
Evaluating the physiological and physical consequences of capture on post-release survivorship in large pelagic fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stevens, J. D., Bonfil, R., Dulvy, N. K., and Walker, P. A. (2000). The effects of fishing on sharks, rays, and chimaeras (chondrichthyans), and the implications for marine ecosystem. Journal of Marine Science 57, 476–494.

Thorneloe, C., Bedard, C., and Boysen, S. (2007). Evaluation of a hand-held lactate analyzer in dogs. The Canadian Veterinary Journal. La Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 48, 283–288.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXks1Gmtbs%3D&md5=96c80f3916e4c2a6fc600cffa64028c1CAS | 17436905PubMed |

Venn Beecham, R., Small, B. C., and Minchew, C. D. (2006). Using portable lactate and glucose meters for catfish research: acceptable alternatives to established laboratory methods? North American Journal of Aquaculture 68, 291–295.
Using portable lactate and glucose meters for catfish research: acceptable alternatives to established laboratory methods?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wells, R. M. G., and Pankhurst, N. W. (1999). Evaluation of simple instruments for the measurement of blood glucose and lactate, and plasma protein as stress indicators in fish. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 30, 276–284.
Evaluation of simple instruments for the measurement of blood glucose and lactate, and plasma protein as stress indicators in fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wolf, K. (1963). Physiological salines for fresh-water teleosts. Progressive Fish-Culturist 25, 135–140.
Physiological salines for fresh-water teleosts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF2MXmvVCksg%3D%3D&md5=2dd2aa98af19aabc5137b9c2e4958abcCAS |