Comparison of biochemistry values from plasma and lymph in Krefft’s river turtles (Emydura macquarii krefftii)

Lymph contamination of peripheral blood samples is common in reptile species due to a close association of the lymphatic and vascular systems. Grossly lymph-diluted samples are generally discarded due to potential effects on hematologic and biochemical parameters. Differences in biochemistry values from different sample sites in chelonians are often attributed to lymph contamination. Previous studies have evaluated blood-lymph mixtures but provide limited information since the proportion of lymph is unknown. Differences in biochemistry values of pure lymph compared to plasma are unknown in chelonian species. Paired plasma samples collected from the jugular vein and lymph samples collected from the dorsal lymphatic ring adjacent to the subcarapacial plexus were collected from 11 (6 females, 5 males) Krefft’s river turtles ( Emydura macquarii krefftii ) for comparison of biochemical analytes. No statistically significant differences were found between lymph and plasma samples for chloride, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine kinase, urea nitrogen, and total bilirubin. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were found between lymph and plasma samples for gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total protein, globulin, and uric acid. Sex and sample differences were statistically significant for sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin, and triglycerides, while significant sex differences only were found for alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and iron. Severe lymph dilution (1:1 with plasma) may cause clinically significant decreases of potassium, total protein, globulin, and LDH, and increases of GGT and uric acid in both sexes, as well as clinically significant decreases of calcium and triglycerides in female Krefft’s river turtles.

Hematologycal and blood biochemistry parameters of captive big-headed amazon river turtles, Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Testudines: Podocnemididae)

The determination of hematological values is used to obtain knowledge about the health conditions of animal species. The big-headed Amazon River turtles, (Peltocephalus dumerilianus)are considered one of the least known testudine species concerning their biology and health status. Herein, we determined the hematological and plasma biochemical parameters of 17 (eight males and nine females) adult P. dumerilianusto provide reference interval values for clinically healthy individuals. We collected the blood samples by puncturing the femoral vein using long heparinized hypodermic syringes. Sexual dimorphism for individuals was determined by external observation of the shape of the plastron. The average values obtained for the ten hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed were red blood cell count = 0.32 million µL-1; hematocrit = 20.6 %; hemoglobin = 8.5 g dL-1; mean corpuscular volume = 681.6 fL; mean corpuscular hemoglobin = 267.8 pg; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration = 41.9 g dL-1; glucose = 80.6 mg dL-1, total protein = 4.1 g dL-1, triglycerides = 388.9 mg dL-1, and total cholesterol = 79.3 mg dL-1. Despite the sexual dimorphism evidenced for the species, there was no significant statistical difference between males and females for both hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed herein. Based on these results, the population is considered healthy, with parameter values coinciding with previously reported reference ranges for testudines species in the region. The results obtained in this study can be used for assessing the health status of other Amazonian turtle populations, especially in actions aimed at cultivation strategies, management, and species conservation.

Presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in captive yellow-spotted river turtles (Podocnemis unifilis) in the Eastern Amazon

ABSTRACT: We describe anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinin in yellow-spotted river turtles (Podocnemis unifilis)in the Amazon region. Ninety-eight serum samples from individuals housed at the Bosque Rodrigues Alves Zoobotanical Garden of Amazonia, Belém, PA, Brazil, were subject to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using 19 different Leptospira spp. antigen serogroups. Thirty-four of the 98 samples (35%) were reactive, with titers ranging from 100 to 3200, and eight 8 reactive samples (23.5%) co-agglutinated under two or more serovars.The most common serogroup was Hebdomadis (26.9%, 7/26), followed by Semaranga (23%, 6/26), Shermani (19.2%, 5/26), Djasiman (11.5%, 3/26), and Australis (7.7%, 2/26); Bataviae, Javanica, and Sejroewere represented by a single sample each (3.9%). The presence of turtles reactive to anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies implies exposure to the pathogen.