Constance Merigo

Publications of Constance Merigo

• Metabolic and respiratory derangements associated with death in cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii): 32 cases (2005-2009).

  Authors: Krista A Keller, Charles J Innis, Michael F Tlusty, Adam E Kennedy, Sarah B Bean, Julie M Cavin, Constance Merigo

  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 02/2012; 240(3):317-23.

  To assess selected clinicopathologic variables at hospital admission (day 1) for cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) that died during the first 3 days after admissionTo assess selected clinicopathologic variables at hospital admission (day 1) for cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) that died during the first 3 days after admission (nonsurvivors) and turtles that survived (survivors) and to determine the percentage change of each variable from day 1 to day of death (nonsurvivors) or to day 2 or 3 of hospitalization (survivors). Retrospective case-control study. Animals-64 stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles hospitalized from October 2005 through December 2009. Blood gas, pH, Hct, and selected biochemical values in blood samples determined on day 1 and day of death (nonsurvivors; n = 32) or day 2 or 3 of hospitalization (survivors; 32) were obtained from medical records. For each variable, initial values and percentage changes (from initial values to values at the day of death or day 2 or 3 of hospitalization) were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Compared with blood analysis findings for survivors, nonsurvivors initially had significantly higher potassium concentration and Pco(2) and significantly lower Po(2), pH, and bicarbonate concentration than did survivors. For the first 2 or 3 days of hospitalization, percentage changes in potassium, lactate, and ionized calcium concentrations were significantly higher and percentage changes in pH and plasma glucose and bicarbonate concentrations were significantly lower in nonsurvivors. At hospital admission, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles were affected by metabolic and respiratory derangements; severe derangements were associated with death. Evaluation of blood gas, pH, Hct, and selected clinicopathologic variables provided useful clinical and prognostic information during rehabilitation of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles.

• Hematologic and plasma biochemical findings in cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles: 176 cases (2001-2005).

  Authors: Charles J Innis, Jared B Ravich, Michael F Tlusty, Melissa S Hoge, Denise S Wunn, Leslie B Boerner-Neville, Constance Merigo, E Scott Weber

  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 09/2009; 235(4):426-32.

  Objective-To document hematologic and plasma biochemical values for a large number of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles at the beginning of rehabilitation, to investigate differences in hematologicObjective-To document hematologic and plasma biochemical values for a large number of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles at the beginning of rehabilitation, to investigate differences in hematologic and plasma biochemical values of turtles that ultimately survived versus those that died, and to compare values of survivors during convalescence with initial values obtained at the time of admission. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-176 stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles hospitalized between 2001 and 2005. Procedures-Hematologic and plasma biochemical values obtained at the time of admission were compared retrospectively for turtles that died versus turtles that survived. Initial results for survivors were compared with convalescent results obtained later in rehabilitation. Results-Turtles that died had significantly greater plasma concentrations of sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and uric acid than did turtles that survived. For survivors, values obtained during convalescence for BUN concentration and plasma calcium concentration were significantly greater than initial values obtained at the time of admission, whereas values obtained during convalescence for glucose, sodium, and uric acid concentrations were significantly lower than initial values. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles may be affected by electrolyte derangements, dehydration, and decreased renal function. Hematologic and plasma biochemical evaluation of such turtles provided useful clinical and prognostic information during the rehabilitation process.

• Pathologic and parasitologic findings of cold-stunned kemp's ridley sea turtles (lepidochelys kempii) stranded on cape cod, massachusetts, 2001-2006.

  Authors: Charles Innis, Akinyi C Nyaoke, C Rogers Williams, Bridget Dunnigan, Constance Merigo, Denise L Woodward, E Scott Weber, Salvatore Frasca

  Journal of wildlife diseases. 08/2009; 45(3):594-610.

  Necropsy reports for 28 stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) that died between 2001 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Gross and microscopic lesions wereNecropsy reports for 28 stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) that died between 2001 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Gross and microscopic lesions were compiled to describe the pathologic and parasitologic findings in turtles that were found freshly dead on the beach or that died within 48 hr of stranding. Anatomic lesions of varying severity were identified in each of the examined turtles and were identified in tissues of the alimentary, respiratory, integumentary, nervous and sensory, and urogenital systems in order of decreasing frequency. Necrotizing enterocolitis and bacterial or fungal pneumonia were the most frequently encountered lesions that were considered clinically significant. Parasites and parasitic lesions were identified primarily in tissues of the alimentary system and included intestinal cestodiasis and parasitic granulomas containing larval cestodes or nematodes. Postlarval cestodes were also found in the coelom of two turtles. In many cases, the extent and severity of lesions were judged to be insufficient to have solely caused mortality, suggesting that additional factors such as metabolic, respiratory, and electrolyte derangements; hypothermia; and drowning may be important proximate causes of death in cold-stunned turtles. Results of this study provide insight into pathologic conditions that may be of clinical relevance to rehabilitation efforts for cold-stunned sea turtles.

• Metabolic and respiratory status of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii).

  Authors: Charles J Innis, Michael Tlusty, Constance Merigo, E Scott Weber

  Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology. 09/2007; 177(6):623-30.

  "Cold-stunning" of sea turtles has been reported as a naturally occurring stressor for many years; however, the physiologic status of cold-stunned turtles has only been partially described. This"Cold-stunning" of sea turtles has been reported as a naturally occurring stressor for many years; however, the physiologic status of cold-stunned turtles has only been partially described. This study investigated initial and convalescent venous blood gas, acid-base, and critical plasma biochemical data for 26 naturally cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) from Cape Cod, MA, USA. Samples were analyzed for pH, pCO(2), pO(2), bicarbonate, plasma osmolality, sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, ionized magnesium, glucose, lactate, and blood urea nitrogen using a clinical point-of-care analyzer. Data were corrected for the patient's body temperature using both species-specific and more general correction methods. In general, venous blood gas, acid-base, and plasma biochemical data obtained for surviving cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles were consistent with previously documented data for sea turtles exposed to a wide range of temperatures and physiologic stressors. Data indicated that turtles were initially affected by metabolic and respiratory acidosis. Initial pH-corrected ionized calcium concentrations were lower than convalescent concentrations, and initial pH-corrected ionized magnesium concentrations were higher than convalescent concentrations.

• Scintigraphic and radiographic evaluation of appendicular skeletal lesions in cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

  Authors: Mauricio Solano, Charles Innis, Cynthia Smith, Constance Merigo, Ernest Scott Weber

  Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association. 49(4):388-94.

  Osteolytic appendicular skeletal lesions in eight-stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) were evaluated using radiography and skeletal scintigraphy. RadiographicOsteolytic appendicular skeletal lesions in eight-stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) were evaluated using radiography and skeletal scintigraphy. Radiographic studies were performed monthly in most animals. Follow-up scintigraphy was performed 45-120 days after the initial exams in six turtles. Radiographically, lesions slowly progressed from an early osteolytic process contained to either the proximal or distal end of long bones, to a later stage characterized by thickening of the affected bone, sclerosis, and remodeling of the lesion borders. In seven turtles, the initial scintigrams were characterized by at least one focus of abnormal radiopharmaceutical uptake that correlated with a lytic site noted in radiographs. In five turtles, scintigraphic lesions were characterized by asymmetric radiopharmaceutical uptake rather than by increased intensity of uptake. Scintigraphic studies obtained more than 4 months after the appearance of clinical and radiographic signs had minimal, if any, abnormal radiopharmaceutical uptake, despite the persistence of abnormal radiographic findings. Skeletal scintigraphy is an effective method for more precisely determining if and when these animals can be returned to the wild. Animals were released if normal radiopharmaceutical uptake was seen during initial examination, or if decreased uptake was noted between serial examinations. In four of the turtles, resolution of abnormal scintigraphic findings permitted an objective decision to discontinue antibiotic and antifungal therapy. Seven of the eight turtles were released after correlation of the clinical signs with the imaging findings. Radiographs, however, are still needed to facilitate the correct identification of lesions with scintigraphy.