Background Hermann's tortoise, Testudo hermanni, is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of endangered species. Reptile medicine relies also on laboratory analyses to evaluate health status, but reference ranges for hematology and biochemistry variables and protein electrophoresis in plasma of healthy tortoises are not available. Objective The purposes of this study were to establish reference ranges for select hematologic and biochemical variables in clinically healthy Hermann's tortoises, and evaluate the impact of sex and season. Methods Blood samples were collected from 34 healthy tortoises at the end of September and beginning of July. Blood smears, HCT, concentrations of HGB and select plasma biochemical analytes, select enzyme activities, and plasma protein fractions were evaluated. Reference ranges were determined and checked for influence of sex and sampling time point. Results Typical reptilian RBC and WBC were observed in blood smears. HCT and concentrations of HGB, uric acid and urea, and ALT and AST activities were significantly higher in males than in females. Concentrations of glucose, uric acid, and phosphate, and AST activity were significantly higher at the beginning of July, whereas concentrations of urea and Cl were higher at the end of September prior to hibernation. The electrophoretic protein fractions included albumin, and α, β, and γ globulins. Conclusions The reference ranges defined in the present study are useful for clinical tortoise medicine and conservation. Sex and seasonal sampling were identified as factors significantly affecting hematology and blood chemistry analytes; they should be taken into consideration when assessing tortoise health status.

Reference values for hematology and plasma biochemistry variables, and protein electrophoresis of healthy Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermannissp.) / Andreani, G; Carpenè, E; Cannavacciuolo, A; Di Girolamo, N; Ferlizza, E; Isani, G.. - In: VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY. - ISSN 0275-6382. - STAMPA. - 43:4(2014), pp. 573-583. [10.1111/vcp.12203]

Reference values for hematology and plasma biochemistry variables, and protein electrophoresis of healthy Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermannissp.)

ANDREANI, GIULIA;CARPENE', EMILIO;CANNAVACCIUOLO, ANNUNZIATA;DI GIROLAMO, NICOLA;FERLIZZA, ENEA;ISANI, GLORIA
2014

Abstract

Background Hermann's tortoise, Testudo hermanni, is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of endangered species. Reptile medicine relies also on laboratory analyses to evaluate health status, but reference ranges for hematology and biochemistry variables and protein electrophoresis in plasma of healthy tortoises are not available. Objective The purposes of this study were to establish reference ranges for select hematologic and biochemical variables in clinically healthy Hermann's tortoises, and evaluate the impact of sex and season. Methods Blood samples were collected from 34 healthy tortoises at the end of September and beginning of July. Blood smears, HCT, concentrations of HGB and select plasma biochemical analytes, select enzyme activities, and plasma protein fractions were evaluated. Reference ranges were determined and checked for influence of sex and sampling time point. Results Typical reptilian RBC and WBC were observed in blood smears. HCT and concentrations of HGB, uric acid and urea, and ALT and AST activities were significantly higher in males than in females. Concentrations of glucose, uric acid, and phosphate, and AST activity were significantly higher at the beginning of July, whereas concentrations of urea and Cl were higher at the end of September prior to hibernation. The electrophoretic protein fractions included albumin, and α, β, and γ globulins. Conclusions The reference ranges defined in the present study are useful for clinical tortoise medicine and conservation. Sex and seasonal sampling were identified as factors significantly affecting hematology and blood chemistry analytes; they should be taken into consideration when assessing tortoise health status.
2014
Reference values for hematology and plasma biochemistry variables, and protein electrophoresis of healthy Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermannissp.) / Andreani, G; Carpenè, E; Cannavacciuolo, A; Di Girolamo, N; Ferlizza, E; Isani, G.. - In: VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY. - ISSN 0275-6382. - STAMPA. - 43:4(2014), pp. 573-583. [10.1111/vcp.12203]
Andreani, G; Carpenè, E; Cannavacciuolo, A; Di Girolamo, N; Ferlizza, E; Isani, G.
File in questo prodotto:
Eventuali allegati, non sono esposti

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/371519
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 9
  • Scopus 48
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 35
social impact