Serum biochemistry of Trachemys scripta elegans and Trachemys dorbignyi (Testudines: Emydidae) bred in captivity in the Northeastern semiarid region of Brazil

Abstract

<jats:p>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.</jats:p>

Hematological and Biochemical Reference Intervals for Euphrates Softshell Turtle (Rafetus euphraticus)

“…The results of this study showed that the average concentration of serum globulins in Euphrates softshell turtle (R. euphraticus) was 2.64 ± 0.49 (1.86-3.74 g dL -1 ) (Table 3). Previous studies have shown that the average concentration of globulins was 2.29 ± 0.32 g dL -1 in the serum of E. imbricata (Ehsanpour et al 2015), 2.30 ± 0.30 g dL -1 in the serum of E. orbicularis (Banaee et al 2020), 2.9-3.5 g dL -1 in the serum of T. scripta elegans, and 3.4-4.3 g dL -1 in the serum of T. dorbigni (Gradela et al 2020).…”

“…Reproductive activities and physiological stress resulting from mating and nesting can affect blood glucose levels of turtles. The glucose concentrations in the serum of E. imbricata (120.41 ± 8.16 mg dL -1 ) (Ehsanpour et al 2015), E. orbicularis (120.4 ± 8.2 mg dL -1 ) (Banaee et al 2020), T. scripta elegans (151.5-229 mg dL -1 ), and T. dorbignyi (92-124.6 mg dL -1 ) (Gradela et al 2020), E. imbricata (101.2 ± 30.9 mg dL -1 ) (Salvarani et al 2018), and C. caretta (74-332 mg dL -1 ) (Yang et al 2019) were higher than the glucose levels in the serum of R. euphraticus. The blood glucose levels detected in the present study were similar to results reported in the C. insculpta (52.73 ± 9.64 mg dL -1 ) (Ward et al 2012), and L. olivacea (79 mg dL -1 ) (Corte ´s-Go ´mez et al 2018).…”

“…The typical total protein in the serum of Euphrates softshell turtle (R. euphraticus) was 4.91 ± 0.82 (3.68-6.84 g dL -1 ) (Table 3). The total serum protein range reported in C. caretta (3.74 ± 0.32 g dL -1 ) (Pagano et al 2019), E. imbricate (4.84 ± 0.32 g dL -1 ) (Ehsanpour et al 2015), C. caretta (2.4-5.9 g dL -1 ) (Yang et al 2019), E. orbicularis (3.3 ± 0.7 g dL -1 ) (Banaee et al 2020), T. scripta elegans (3.7-4.7 g dL -1 ), T. dorbigni (5.3-6 g dL -1 ) (Gradela et al 2020), and L. olivacea (3.4 g dL -1 ) (Corte ´s-Go ´mez et al 2018) was consistent with the results found in the present study. Nevertheless, the serum total protein reported in C. insculpta (1.2 ± 0.28 g dL -1 ) (Ward et al 2012) was lower than the total protein in the serum of R. euphraticus.…”

“…The mean value of the albumin in the serum of Euphrates softshell turtle (R. euphraticus) was 2.27 ± 0.65 (1.57-3.46 g dL -1 ) (Table 3). Blood albumin concentration in C. caretta (1-1.9 g dL -1 ) (Yang, et al 2019), E. orbicularis (2.19 ± 0.2 g dL -1 ) (Banaee et al 2020), E. imbricata (2.54 ± 0.12 g dL -1 ) (Ehsanpour et al 2015), and T. dorbignyi (1.4-1.9 g dL -1 ) (Gradela et al 2020) was similar to the range of albumin in the serum of R. euphraticus. However, the range of albumin reported in the serum of T. scripta elegans (0.9-1.5 g dL -1 ) (Gradela et al 2020), and L. olivacea (0.9 g dL -1 ) (Corte ´s-Go ´mez et al 2018) was lower than albumin range in the serum of R. euphraticus.…”

“…Creatinine level in the serum of Euphrates turtles (R. euphraticus) was 1.54 ± 0.37 mg dL -1 (1.00-2.27 mg dL -1 ) (Table 3). The creatinine level in the serum of C. caretta (0.11 ± 0.04 mg dL -1 ) (Pagano et al 2019), E. imbricata (0.57 ± 0.27 mg dL -1 ) (Salvarani et al 2018), E. orbicularis (0.27 ± 0.1 mg dL -1 ) (Banaee et al 2020), T. scripta elegans (0.3-0.4 mg dL -1 ), and T. dorbigni (0.3-0.5 mg dL -1 ) (Gradela et al 2020), and L. olivacea (0.2 mg dL -1 ) (Corte ´s-Go ´mez et al 2018) was lower than the creatinine content in the serum of Euphrates turtles. Nevertheless, the creatinine level in the serum of E. imbricata (1.38 ± 0.1 mg dL -1 ) (Ehsanpour et al 2015) was similar to the results obtained in this study.…”