Plasma protein electrophoresis of Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni )

Serum/plasma protein electrophoresis is the current standard technique in human and veterinary medicine to investigate dysproteinemias and to identify and monitor specific pathologies. Serum/plasma protein electrophoresis application in reptile medicine is limited because of lack of reference values. Aims of this study were to provide reference intervals for plasma protein fractions of 30 clinically healthy Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) and compare the results with plasma samples collected from 10 diseased animals. 0.5-0.7 mL of blood were collected from the dorsal cervical sinus and flushed into 1.3 mL lithium heparin tubes. In the experimental conditions, at least 4 fractions were always present in all specimens: albumin, α globulins (frequently resolved in two peaks) β globulins (sometimes separated in two peaks) and γ globulins. In healthy young specimens (1-2 years old), plasma proteins were represented by 42% of albumin, 18,5 % of α globulins, 29,5 % of β globulins and 10% of γ globulins. In healthy adult specimens lower values of β (20 – 22 %) and γ (4 – 5 %) fractions were found, while values of α fractions were increased (28 – 32 %). The high amount of α globulins in adult tortoises could be related to the abundance of two specific protein components of α zone: α2 macroglobulin (α2M) and α lipoproteins (HDL). In unhealthy specimens (traumatized or subjected to surgical operations) a huge increase of β fraction was evident (40-42%) associated to a decrease of albumin fraction (21%). Changes in this fraction are also dramatic in birds with acute disease.