Hematology and Clinical Chemistry Values of Free-Ranging Basilisk Lizards (Basiliscus plumifrons) in Costa Rica

Abstract

Twenty-three lizards were captured for this study, both males and females (12 males, 10 females, 1 undetermined), with a large range in body weights (40-286 g) appeared to be healthy based on activity level, physical examinations, and body condition scores. Heparinized blood samples from 20 free-ranging basilisk lizards (Basiliscus plumifrons) in Costa Rica were used for determining complete blood cell counts, plasma, and heparinized whole blood biochemical analysis. This information will serve as baseline reference data for future health assessment studies of free-ranging and captive basilisk lizards, as well as epidemiologic, conservation, and captive-breeding studies. A point-of-care analyzer was useful for this field study, and clinical chemistry values from heparinized whole blood samples were similar to values from plasma, which indicates that separation of plasma may not be necessary to process blood samples on site in remote areas. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of hematologic and plasma biochemical data from free-ranging B. plumnifrons.

Blood gases, biochemistry and haematology of Galápagos marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

“…The measured heart rates of specimens within 5 min of capture on lava rocks for this study were comparable to those of marine iguanas during periods of treadmill activity ( Butler et al , 2002 ), but relatively low when compared with captive basilisk lizards ( Dallwig et al ., 2011 ). Likewise, respiration was much lower compared with the basilisk lizards and might be related to the adaptation of marine iguanas to hold their breath for an extended time during foraging dives ( Vitousek et al ., 1997 ; Dallwig et al ., 2011 ). Faster heart rates of iguanas with smaller body sizes were reported by Bartholomew and Lasiewski (1965) , which might explain the increase in respiratory rate with smaller body size in this study.…”

“…Most of the blood parameters we recorded for marine iguanas were similar to those reported previously for other iguanids ( Divers et al ., 1996 ; Harr et al ., 2001 ; Maria et al ., 2007 ; Dallwig et al ., 2011 ; Gibbons et al ., 2013 ; Table 3 ). An exception was Na (mean 178+ mmol/l), which was present at concentrations that are among the highest ever reported in reptiles ( Dessauer, 1970 ).…”

“…Lymphocytes are the most abundant in both species, followed by heterophils and monocytes, while eosinophils and basophils are nearly absent ( Harr et al ., 2001 ). Basilisk lizards, in turn, have much lower lymphocyte counts, higher heterophil concentrations and few, if any, eosinophils ( Dallwig et al , 2011 ).…”

“…To determine the significance of changes in biochemical and haematological values associated with factors such as disease, injury, pollutants or starvation, it is essential to establish species-specific (or at least taxon-specific) normal values for parameters of interest. Reference intervals for certain iguanid and related species have been investigated ( Divers et al ., 1996 ; Wagner and Wetzel, 1999 ; Dennis et al ., 2001 ; Hernandez-Divers et al ., 2005 ; James et al ., 2006 ; Harr et al ., 2001 ; Maria et al ., 2007 ; Dallwig et al ., 2011 ). Nevertheless, few studies have combined blood gas, biochemistry and haematology parameters from the same geographical subpopulation.…”

Venous hematology, biochemistry, and blood gas analysis of free-ranging Eastern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) and Eastern Ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

“…Despite their popularity in managed collections, published hematologic, biochemical, and blood gas reference values for these species are limited. Baseline physiological data serve as an important reference for the health assessment of both free-ranging and managed populations [1][2][3][4]. The increased availability of portable point-of-care analyzers in veterinary medicine has facilitated evaluation of clinical pathology analytes, thus permitting plasma biochemistry and venous blood gas analysis to be conducted in field settings [5,6].…”