Comparison of Sutures Used for Wound Closure in Sturgeon following a Gonad Biopsy

Abstract

Suture materials play an important role in sturgeon husbandry of domestic stocks and in management of wild stocks. Sturgeons have no apparent external sex characteristics; therefore, males and females are usually identified by direct examination of their gonads through an abdominal incision. The suture material provides tissue support for healing of the wound. Many types of suture materials are available for wound repair. Using Gulf of Mexico sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus de sotoi, we evaluated the absorbable Vicryl, PDS II, and Panacryl materials and the nonabsorbable Ethibond sutures to close abdominal skin incisions after gonad tissue biopsies. Both the absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures effectively sew the skin after the gonad biopsy. All sturgeons survived the surgery and incisions healed after 30 d of the intervention. Vicryl appears to be the most appropriate suture material for closure of sturgeon gonad biopsy wounds because it did not require removal and reduced prolonged skin irritation. The material was easy to work with and was broken within 30 d of application.