Successive Changes of Hematologic Characteristics and Plasma Chemistry Values of Juvenile Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta)

Abstract

Hematologic characteristics and plasma chemistry values of juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the ages of 1 mo to 3 yr were obtained to establish baseline values. Five clinically normal loggerhead turtles were selected from the same clutch and raised in an indoor artificial nesting beach. Blood samples were successively collected and examined for various blood characteristics for a maximum total of 15 times. Hematologic characteristics, including packed cell volume, white blood cell counts, and white blood cell differentials; and plasma chemistry values, including total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, gamma-glutamic transpeptidase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, ionized sodium, ionized potassium and ionized chlorine, were measured. These results were used to establish a hematology and blood chemistry baseline for captive juvenile loggerhead turtles and will aid in their medical management.

Changes in Plasma Chemistry and Reproductive Output of Nesting Leatherbacks

“…Potential explanations for this disparity include the possible fasting state, normal physiological variation, or an evolutionary adaptation to a low-protein gelatinous-zooplankton diet. Albumin, ALP, creatinine, globulin, glucose, TBIL, potassium, sodium, uric acid, TP, and PCV values were similar to those reported in leatherbacks nesting in Gabon (Deem et al, 2006) and in other species of sea turtles (Bolten and Bjorndal, 1992;Campbell, 1996;Carminati et al, 1994;Day et al, 2007;George, 1997;Kakizoe et al, 2007;Whiting et al, 2007). However, uric acid concentrations were higher in foraging leatherbacks (1.3 6 0.24 mg/dL, SE, n 5 11; Innis et al, 2010), as might be expected if leatherbacks are fasting during the nesting season.…”

“…No seasonal trend for calcium was detected in a population of Loggerhead Sea Turtles that represented a randomly sampled broad selection of age, sex, and reproductive status (Lutz and Dunbar-Cooper, 1987). However, a population of nesting loggerheads showed a similar level of hypercalcemia to that observed in this study (Kakizoe et al, 2007). The decreasing trend in calcium concentration may represent depletion of calcium as the nesting season proceeds, or it may represent an eventual return to normal (nonfolliculogenic) physiological calcium concentrations by the end of the nesting season.…”

“…These concentrations were also near the upper limit of the published calcium intervals (6-11 mg/dL) in other sea turtles (Bolten and Bjorndal, 1992;Campbell, 1996;Carminati et al, 1994;Day et al, 2007;George, 1997;Hasbú n et al, 1998;Whiting et al, 2007). Phosphorous concentrations (12.19 6 0.16 mg/dL, SE, n 5 55) were consistent with those found in the Deem et al (2006) study (11.0 6 2 mg/dL, SE, n 5 10), but were elevated compared to those of foraging leatherbacks (9.0 6 0.4 mg/ dL, SE, n 5 18) and other sea turtles (interval, 6-11 mg/dL; Bolten and Bjorndal, 1992;Campbell, 1996;Carminati et al, 1994;Day et al, 2007;George, 1997;Hasbú n et al, 1998;Innis et al, 2010;Kakizoe et al, 2007;Whiting et al, 2007). In this study, the calcium:phosphorous ratio in nesting leatherbacks was 0.92.…”

“…Blood biochemistry parameters and hematological values have been reported in adult and juvenile Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas; Aguirre and Balazs, 2000;Bolten and Bjorndal, 1992;Hasbú n et al, 1998), adult foraging Green Sea Turtles (Whiting et al, 2007), adult and subadult Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in the wild and captivity (Day et al, 2007;Kakizoe et al, 2007;Lutz and Dunbar-Cooper, 1987), and in Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) in the wild and captivity (Carminati et al, 1994;Stabenau et al, 1991;Turnbull et al, 2000). Even though there are numerous studies on blood indices in cheloniid turtles, there are few published studies (Deem et al, 2006;Innis et al, 2010) on blood indices of the Leatherback Sea Turtle, which is the sole surviving species in the family Dermochelyidae.…”

Shorter telomere length with age in the loggerhead turtle: a new hope for live sea turtle age estimation

“…Loggerhead turtles reach sexual maturity in about 20 years (Dodd, 1988 Sample sites for blood and epidermis on the body of each turtle were cleaned with 100% ethanol. Blood samples were collected from the dorsal cervical venous sinus with an 18-or 20-gauge needle and syringe (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) as a part of regular checks on health and well-being of the turtles (Kakizoe et al, 2007), and stored in a TNES buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 125 mM NaCl; 10 mM EDTA; 1% SDS) at room temperature. Epidermis samples were sliced from the dorsal cervix with a razor (Beauty-M, Kai Razor Co., Ltd, Gifu, Japan) and stored in 100% ethanol at room temperature.…”