Coelomic fluid sampling is a noninvasive technique that is used to access the body fluid of sea stars for diagnostics and research. Given recent mortality events including sea star wasting disease, which has killed millions of sea stars along the Pacific coast since 2013, there is a need for validated diagnostic tests to evaluate sea star health. The objectives of this study were to establish coelomic fluid reference intervals for clinically normal ochre sea stars Pisaster ochraceus in an open system aquarium, to describe the cytologic findings, and to compare the chemistries of coelomic fluid with open system tank water. Coelomic fluid from 26 clinically normal sea stars was sampled for coelomocyte counts, cytologic evaluation, and biochemical analysis including magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and total protein. The number of coelomocytes and total protein did not fit normal distribution and were excluded from analyses. Reference intervals were established for other chemistry analytes. There was no statistical difference in biochemistries between sea star coelomic fluid and water from five open system tanks, which supports previous evidence that sea stars are osmoconformers. Very low numbers of coelomocytes were observed cytologically. These results provide a useful baseline and diagnostic tool for health assessments of sea stars.

中文翻译：

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临床正常赭石海星 Pisaster ochraceus 的体腔液评估：细胞计数、细胞学和生化参考区间

体腔液采样是一种非侵入性技术，用于获取海星的体液以进行诊断和研究。鉴于最近发生的死亡事件，包括自 2013 年以来太平洋沿岸数百万海星死亡的海星消瘦病，需要经过验证的诊断测试来评估海星的健康状况。本研究的目的是为开放系统水族箱中临床正常的赭石海星 Pisaster ochraceus 建立体腔液参考区间，描述细胞学发现，并比较体腔液与开放系统水族箱水的化学成分。对 26 只临床正常海星的体腔液进行采样，用于体腔细胞计数、细胞学评估和生化分析，包括镁、钠、钾、氯、钙和总蛋白。体腔细胞和总蛋白的数量不符合正态分布，因此被排除在分析之外。为其他化学分析物建立了参考区间。海星体腔液和来自五个开放系统水箱的水之间的生物化学没有统计学差异，这支持了先前关于海星是渗透适体的证据。在细胞学上观察到非常低数量的体腔细胞。这些结果为海星的健康评估提供了有用的基线和诊断工具。这支持先前的证据，即海星是渗透适形剂。在细胞学上观察到非常低数量的体腔细胞。这些结果为海星的健康评估提供了有用的基线和诊断工具。这支持先前的证据，即海星是渗透适形物。在细胞学上观察到非常低数量的体腔细胞。这些结果为海星的健康评估提供了有用的基线和诊断工具。