The Study in Normal Healthy Body Ratio, Hematologic and Biochemical Reference Values of Mauremys reevesii
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Kuan, Yuan-Peng
Abstract
The Reeve’s turtle (Mauremys reevesii) is one of the four endemic freshwater turtle species found in Taiwan. Due to overharvesting and habitat destruction, the Reeve’s turtle is now nearly extinction in Taiwan, and the only stable population is currently restricted in Kinmen island. The status of this turtle is currently listed as endangered on
the IUCN Redlist and protected under the Wildlife Conservation Law as an endangered species in Taiwan, however the related conservation medicine studies of this species are still lacking. The purpose of this study is to establish the normal healthy body ratio, hematologic and biochemical reference values of the Reeve’s turtle, which can be applied on the clinical veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation.
27 clinically healthy and mature Reeve’s turtle from Kinmen were sampled in this research, which including 12 males and 15 females. The normal healthy body ratio was assessed by Jackson’s ratio and regressive equation between logarithm body weight and logarithm carapace length.
In the establishment of hematological and biochemical reference values, the blood samples were collected from the same group of Reeve’s turtle in April, July, November of 2011 and February of 2012 as the representative months of the four seasons. Complete blood count was performed including hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, red and white blood cell count and cytological differential count. Blood biochemistry items included albumin, total protein, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, phosphorus, creatine kinase (CK), γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride). The normal reference interval was established by the principles of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC). The data was further analyzed, hoping to determine whether some variables like gender and season can affect those parameters.
The results showed that there were high correlations between body weight and carapace length. With increasing carapace length, the Jackson’s ratio also increases. The regressive equation between logarithm body weight and logarithm carapace length were also established, thus we can predict the normal body weight of the turtle based on its carapace length of different seasons and gender.
Significant sex differences of heterophil and basophil percentage, AST, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, total protein and triglyceride were observed. Seasonal variations were noted in most parameters, which representing food intake and metabolic function except white blood cell count and their percentage, AST and ALT. The differences between sex and seasons were primarily associated with female reproduction stage and lower temperature in winter (wintering).
The blood cell morphology and cytochemical characteristic of the Reeve’s turtle are resemble to most reptiles, thus we can differentiate these cells directly using microscope. The most abundant leukocytes are heterophils and basophils, followed by monocytes and lymphocytes, and the eosinophils are the rare one.
The results of assessment of normal healthy body ratio and hematological and biochemical reference values presented in this study can be applied on clinical veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation in this species, such as wildlife casualties, quarantine and shelter. Also, these data of the Reeve’s turtle can be integrated with former researches about other freshwater turtles in Taiwan, completing the conservation medicine database of endemic freshwater turtles in Taiwan.
Subjects
Reeve’s turtle
Mauremys reevesii
body condition
hematology
biochemistry
reference values
endangered species
SDGs
Type
thesis
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