Blood Transfusion in Exotic Species

Strunk, Anneliese; Stöhr, Anke C.

doi:10.1002/9781119500537.ch103

Schalm's Veterinary Hematology 2022

DOI: 10.1002/9781119500537.ch103

|View full text |Cite

Blood Transfusion in Exotic Species

Anneliese Strunk¹,

Anke C. Stöhr²

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...

Citation Types

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Year Published

2023

Publication Types

Select...

Book1

Relationship

Self Cite0

Independent1

Authors

Journals

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Administration of blood into the heart was chosen as a salvage attempt after jugular catheterisation was not possible. Evidence-based research focusing on blood administration in reptiles is lacking (Strunk A & Stöhr, 2022a) but this case report, although not preferable, showed that slow administration of blood into the heart was successful in improving the snakes demeanour.…”

mentioning

confidence: 82%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Blood transfusion in a reticulated python, Python reticulatus

Pellett¹

2023

BSAVA Congress Proceedings 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The snake had been power-fed before the owners rescued him. Blood was collected from the ventral coccygeal vein and a haematology and biochemistry profile was performed. Bloods revealed a non-regenerative picture with a PCV of 2%. Renal involvement was suspected with a uric acid 732 umol/l (118-402). In combination with clinical signs, a low PCV and raised uric acid, suspicions were raised about kidney involvement and a reduced erythropoietin production. After ethical review, a homologous blood transfusion was performed following initial stabilisation. Two large male reticulated pythons were anaesthetised, and blood taken from the ventral coccygeal vein into a blood collecting unit. Blood was administered to the recipient slowly via the intracardiac route under anaesthesia. Administration intravenously, via a surgical approach to the jugular, as described in a previous case report in a Green Tree python was not possible due to patient instability. Vitamin B12 was administered to the recipient snake. ResultsDemeanour greatly improved after the transfusion. Erythropoietin EPO (Epoetin beta, NeoRecormon), an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, was administered to the snake at 100U/kg via the SC route, three times a week.It is a synthetic, recombinant form of erythropoietin, a protein that promotes the production of red blood cells. In the literature, canine EPO was given to sea turtles with success, administered subcutaneously at 100U/kg three times weekly over a 2-week period (Perry & Mader, 2015). The snake deteriorated again two months after the transfusion, and due to underlying conditions was euthanised on welfare grounds. Bloods taken prior to euthanasia showed a regenerative picture with a PCV of 24%. In a study using bearded dragons it was found that homologous transfusions had an erythrocyte lifespan of 65 days (Stoehr, 2020).A post-mortem of the snake revealed an abscess within the cloacal and an overwhelming clostridial infection. Histopathology of the large intestine identified colitis with ulcerative and necrotising, heterophilic and granulomatous lesions described. It is likely that the anaemia was caused by a combination of factors to include blood loss, anaemia of chronic disease and metabolic disease. DiscussionBlood transfusions can be lifesaving for all exotic species but in snakes can prove to challenging. Indications for a blood transfusion in this case included clinical signs, in addition with laboratory findings (Lichtenberger, 2004).The snake had a PCV of 2%. Two donors were selected and were young, healthy animals of appropriate weight (35kg and 22kg respectively) and were of the same species and sex as the recipient snake.Both the donors and the recipient snake carried the platinum gene ensuring similarity between the individuals was as close as possible. The donor snakes were long-term individuals within the same collection and were housed individually. Strict biosecurity protocols were in place to avoid transmission of any diseases between enclosures.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Blood film evaluation assessing whether there is a regenerative or non-regenerative anaemia, in addition to a PCV is recommended. A blood transfusion should be considered in anaemic reptilian patients with a PCV<10% in combination with clinical signs (Strunk & Stöhr, 2022b). A PCV of 5% or below is critical.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood transfusion in a reticulated python, Python reticulatus

Pellett¹

2023

BSAVA Congress Proceedings 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Blood Transfusion in Exotic Species

Cited by 1 publication

References 37 publications

Blood transfusion in a reticulated python, Python reticulatus

Blood transfusion in a reticulated python, Python reticulatus

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About