Meeting Abstract
To circumvent limitations in traditional radiographic bone density assessment, a custom quantitative ultrasound device and protocols were developed for assessment of live bottlenose dolphins resulting in a novel diagnostic tool for measuring the effects of environmental contaminants on mineralized tissue. Traditional methods for bone density measurement utilize radiographic (x-ray) scanners that have limited potential in open-water field settings due to the inherent limitations of access, regulation and the radiographic nature of the technology. Alternatively, quantitative ultrasound is an ideal diagnostic tool as it is portable, non-invasive, and does not expose patients or technicians to radiation. In laboratory measurements on disarticulated flippers collected during strandings, a strong correlation was established between bone mineral density (BMD) as measured with x-ray and quantitative ultrasound (r=0.93). A primary target skeletal site in the radius of the dolphin pectoral flipper was comprehensively defined. 389 radii from 280 bottlenose dolphins were analyzed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The BMD distribution pattern throughout the radius was characterized and a single region of interest (ROI) was selected that had a high correlation to the density of the overall bone (r=0.98). Successful clinical trials were conducted to ultrasonically assess BMD in live, free-ranging dolphins during capture-release health assessments. Development of this technology enables assessment of dolphin bone tissue to become part of the armamentarium of researchers and veterinarians and should additionally broaden the understanding of dolphin and overall ecosystem health.
