HEMATOLOGY AND PLASMA BIOCHEMISTRY ANALYTES IN FIVE AGE GROUPS OF IMMATURE, CAPTIVE-REARED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA)

Abstract

Blood samples of 85 immature, apparently healthy, captive-reared loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were analyzed for 13 hematologic variables and total solids of 5 age groups (8, 20, 32, 44, and 56 mo old) and for 20 plasma biochemical analytes of 4 age groups (20 to 56 mo old). Each individual turtle was sampled under similar conditions during a blood collection period of 3 days. Hematologic analytes included packed cell volume, white blood cell (WBC) counts, WBC estimates, and leukocyte differentials. Biochemical analysis included albumin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatine kinase, creatinine, gamma glutamyltransferase, globulins, glucose, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, total bilirubin, total protein, total solids, and uric acid. In due consideration of small sample size in all five age groups, the results of hematologic and biochemical analysis were used to determine ranges for these analytes and to compare values among consecutive age groups. Several significant differences in some hematologic and biochemical variables were identified and need to be considered in the interpretation of blood work of immature, growing sea turtles in human care.

Clinical Pathology Reference Intervals for an In-Water Population of Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Core Sound, North Carolina, USA

“…The significant positive correlation between size and packed cell volume in these loggerheads is consistent with previous reports of increasing packed cell volume with age and size in both captive and wild sea turtles [32,42–46]. In addition, significant increases in total protein and albumin with increasing size and age have also been observed in a number of studies investigating clinical pathology in sea turtles [21,32,40,42,44,47]. The reason for increasing phosphorus concentrations with increasing size of the turtles is unknown, but could be related to shifts in diet as the turtles grow larger.…”

“…Size and age related variations in clinical pathology analytes have been documented in a number of studies assessing hematologic and biochemical parameters in captive and wild sea turtles [32,40,42–45]. The significant positive correlation between size and packed cell volume in these loggerheads is consistent with previous reports of increasing packed cell volume with age and size in both captive and wild sea turtles [32,42–46].…”

“…Typically no interpretive guidance is provided beyond aiming between upper and lower limits as established, in concert with an overall assessment of body condition, behavior and swimming ability. However, some of the resulting reference limits (e.g., packed cell volume of 13.9% and albumin of 6 g/L [8], packed cell volume of 17% and albumin of 5 g/L in the present study) fail to meet standards for convalescent sea turtles for some rehabilitation facilities [30,31], or for healthy captive-reared [32] or wild [33] loggerhead turtles of comparable size. Possibilities for these discrepancies include excessively stringent pre-release standards in some rehabilitation facilities, or an imperfect visual assessment in the field of unhealthy turtles as healthy.…”

Estado sanitário do jacaré-de-papo-amarelo (<i>Caiman latirostris</i>) em paisagens antropizadas no Estado de São Paulo

“…Na comparação entre fêmeas das duas áreas de estudo, não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas significativas em relação aos componentes do hemograma, um resultado esperado, visto que os mesmos apresentam uma tendência a serem normalmente distribuídos entre espécies, dentro de uma mesma classe, embora uma variação possa ocorrer em répteis e em aves menores (HAWKEY et al, 1991), e somente creatinina apresentou diferença estatística significativa em relação aos componentes bioquímicos sanguíneos analisados, tendo os animais da área de Cubatão/SP apresentado valor médio maior que os animais de Angatuba/SP. Embora esse valor de creatinina esteja dentro de parâmetros sugeridos anteriormente para os répteis (< 1mg/dL) (BOLTEN; JACOBSON; BJORNDAL, 1992;WALLACH;BOEVER, 1983;CAMPBELL, 2006;ROUSSELET et al, 2013), essa diferença pode ser explicada pelo uso de uma área estuarina em Cubatão/SP, pois não há dúvida que espécies de crocodilianos de água doce tem uma limitada capacidade de utilizar esses habitats, tendo que retornarem para a água fresca periodicamente para ingerirem (MAZZOTTI; DUNSON, 1989), provocando um maior gasto de energia estocada frente a necessidade de locomoção.…”

Reference Intervals in Avian and Exotic Hematology

“…8,9 Changes in loggerhead sea turtle hematology between the ages of 8 months and 56 months were also reported. 10 This study included a lower packed cell volume, total white blood cell count, and higher eosinophil counts in young animals; higher monocyte counts were observed in older animals. In another study of box turtles, a negative correlation between body weight and packed cell volume was reported.…”