Aim: This study aimed to assess fundamental biochemical values of healthy animals and to provide useful data on comparative physiologies of Testudines, being assessed the serum biochemistry profiles, and body and tail biometry of Trachemys scripta elegans and Trachemys dorbignyi bred in interaction in the semiarid region of the São Francisco river valley. Materials and Methods: Serum biochemistry variables (urea, creatinine, glucose, total serum protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio), and biometry values of the body (mass [body mass (BM)], maximum curvilinear length [carapace length (CL)], and width [carapace width (CW)] of the carapace, maximum curvilinear length [plastron length (PL)], and width [plastron width PW] of the plastron), and the tail (total length of the tail [TLT], pre-cloacal tail length [PrCL], post-cloacal tail length [PoCL]) were measured after 24 h fasting. Results: T. s. elegans displayed higher BM, CL, CW, PL, PW, AST, TP, albumin, and globulin values. T. dorbignyi displayed higher values of glucose, TLT, and PrCL. Variables aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total protein (TP) in T. s. elegans and glucose in T. dorbignyi explained most of the variance between the species and could serve to distinguish them. Conclusion: We conclude that most of the differences between T. s. elegans and T. dorbignyi shall be explained by biometric variables, AST, TP, and glucose, which characterize interspecific differences. Our results point out terms of reference for these species bred in captivity in the semiarid region of Brazilian Northeastern region and serve as a model for the comparative intra- and inter-species physiology and as a base for the health assessment of these species.

ABSTRACT.-Gradela A., Souza V.N., Queiroz M.M., Constantino A.C., Bandeira C.G. This study aimed to evaluate the body biometry and hematological profile of Trachemys scripta elegans (N=28) and Trachemys dorbignyi (N=22) reared in captivity in the Brazilian submedium northeastern semi-arid region in the Valley of the São Francisco river. It aimed to establish basic health blood values and generate useful data on the comparative physiology of Testudines. After 120-day adaptation and 24-hour fasting, 2.5mL of blood were collected from the dorsal occipital sinus and deposited into a tube with sodium heparin for evaluation, following, of hematological levels. The red blood cell count (RBC) and GLC was conducted in a Neubauer chamber, the hemoglobin level (HGB) was supplied by the cyanmethemoglobin method and the hematocrit (HCT) was obtained by the microhematocrit technique. Based on the RBC, the hematimetric were mathematically established. Body biometry were also evaluated: a) body mass (BM, g); b) maximum dimensions of the carapace [length (MLC, cm) and width (MWC, cm)]; c) maximum dimensions of plastron [length (MLP, cm) and width (MWP, cm)]; d) total length of tail (TLT, cm); e) linear length from the base of the tail to the cloacal orifice (LPrC, cm); f) linear length from the cloacal orifice to the extremity of the tail (LPoC, cm). T. scripta elegans showed higher values (P<0.05) for biometrics, while TLT and LPrC were higher (P<0.05) in T. dorbignyi. The hematological values did not differ (P>0.05) among species. The results show that most of the variation found between T. scripta elegans and T. dorbignyi is explained by the biometric variables and that some hematologic correlations characterize interspecies differences. It was conclude that the results shed light on benchmarks for these species kept in captivity in the northeastern semi-arid region and serve as a model for intra and interspecies comparative physiology.

Annona vepretorum is endemic from the Brazilian Caatinga biome and is used in human nutrition. The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of the ethanolic extract from the leaves of this species. The leaves of A. vepretorum were collected, dried, pulverized, and macerated with ethanol to yield the crude ethanol extract of A. vepretorum. HPLC-diode array detection was used to determine the fingerprint chromatogram of the extract. In toxicity studies, the acute toxicity experimental group was administered a single dose of the ethanol extract of A. vepretorum (1 g/kg), while in the subacute toxicity experimental group, the ethanol extract of A. vepretorum was administered orally, daily for 30 days, at doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg. Death and signs of toxicity were observed and at the end, the animals were anesthetized, and blood and organs were then collected. The presence of the flavonoid rutin in the extract was confirmed using HPLC-diode array detection. In the evaluation of acute and subacute toxicity, there were no behavioral and physiological changes or signs of toxicity, and no occurrences of mice deaths were registered. The organs had normal color and preserved architecture, and no statistical variations in weight were observed. The results of the hematological and biochemical parameters after the administration of the ethanol extract of A. vepretorum showed no significant change, except in the count of the number of leukocytes and triglycerides. The histopathologic analysis of the liver, kidneys, and stomach indicated architecture with normal aspects. Thus, the toxicity study indicates low toxicity of the ethanol extract of A. vepretorum. Such information will be helpful in future clinical studies.