Table 1.

Abnormal haematological and serum biochemical conditions observed in dolphins sampled near Sapelo Island and Brunswick, GA, USA. (Parameter values were compared with reference intervals for appropriate age- and sex-class as described by Schwacke et al. [22]. Prevalence calculation based on n = 27 samples for haematology (haemoglobin) and n = 29 for serum chemistry (all other parameters). For comparison, prevalence was also calculated using samples from Sarasota (n = 63) and Beaufort (n = 12 and n = 14 for haematology and serum chemistry, respectively). GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transaminase.)

condition	defining parameters	no. cases Sapelo	no. cases Brunswick	total cases	prevalence	95% CI	Sarasota prevalence	Beaufort prevalence
anaemia	haemoglobin below lower threshold	3	4	7	0.26	0.11–0.46	0.03	0
elevated hepatic enzymes	one or more above upper threshold: GGT, ALT, AST	4	0	4	0.14	0.04–0.32	0.02	0.07
elevated electrolytes	one or more above upper threshold: sodium, chloride, potassium	1	4	5	0.17	0.06–0.36	0.03	0
elevated lactate dehydrogenase	lactate dehydrogenase above upper threshold	3	6	9	0.31	0.15–0.51	0.10	0.07
hypermagnesemia	magnesium above upper threshold	5	4	9	0.31	0.15–0.51	0	0