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Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are unique because hatchlings and pelagic juveniles are carnivorous, whereas later life stages become primarily herbivorous. Although this dietary shift is well understood, nutritional requirements at each developmental stage are not. Diet selection during rehabilitation is challenging, because turtles are often fed high-protein, low-fiber diets to counteract poor appetite and emaciation, which can result in gastrointestinal disorders. The objective of this study was to analyze hematology, plasma biochemistry, and nutritional analytes to determine the effect of diet on rehabilitating green turtle health and recovery. Turtles in rehabilitation at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) on Jekyll Island, Georgia (n = 21) were sampled at admission, mid-rehabilitation, and recovery. Duration of rehabilitation ranged from 48 to 233 days (mean = 117) and included a shift from a mixed seafood–vegetable diet at admission to a primarily herbivorous diet at recovery. For comparison, free-ranging turtles captured during an ongoing monitoring project in St. Lucie County, Florida (n = 34) were evaluated for the same variables. Several analytes improved during rehabilitation, including total protein, uric acid, potassium, and vitamins A and E. Others were significantly different, including higher cholesterol and triglycerides, but lower calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium in recovery compared with freeranging turtles. These variations illustrate the benefits of appropriate supportive care during rehabilitation as well as the importance of a species-specific diet for green turtles, and may facilitate formulation of nutritionally complete gel diets for this species under human care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) is a species endemic to coastal eastern Australia. This study presents a comprehensive set of biochemistry, hematology, and urinalysis biomarkers from which reference values were derived. Blood samples collected from free-ranging P. poliocephalus were submitted for hematology (n = 140) and plasma biochemistry (n = 161) and urine for urinalysis (n = 95). The values for P. poliocephalus were broadly consistent with those values published for other Australian Pteropus species. Statistically significant within-species age and sex effects were observed: adult P. poliocephalus had higher mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, alanine transferase (ALT), protein, globulin, urinary specific gravity, and urinary ketones, whereas subadults had higher mean red blood cell, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte, and monocyte counts, and juveniles had higher mean neutrophil count and alkaline phosphatase; male P. poliocephalus had higher mean reticulocyte count, alanine transferase, glucose, and urinary ketones, whereas females had higher mean WBC, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts. The findings inform both clinical and research scenarios for P. poliocephalus in captivity or rehabilitation and for health assessments of free-living populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulcata or African spurred tortoise ( Centrochelys sulcata) is a large tortoise species that is commonly kept in zoologic collections and as a pet. The objectives of this study were to establish reference intervals for selected biochemical analytes in clinically healthy captive sulcata tortoises and to evaluate the impact of blood sampling site and sex. Blood samples were collected from 60 tortoises from either the dorsal coccygeal (tail) vein or the subcarapacial venous plexus based on their body size. The packed cell volume and refractometric total solids (TS) were determined. The concentrations of selected plasma biochemical analytes were determined using the VetScan VS2 analyzer and included albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, bile acids, calcium, creatine kinase, globulins, glucose, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, total proteins (TP), and uric acid. The calcium-to-phosphorous ratio was calculated. Reference intervals were determined and evaluated for the potential effects of blood sampling site and sex. There were significant differences ( P < 0.05) associated with the blood sampling site in TS, TP, phosphorus, and globulins, with higher values in samples from the tail versus the subcarapacial sampling site. No significant statistical differences were noted in the plasma biochemistry analytes between the sexes. Reading of the globulins by the analyzer failed in 36 of 60 of the samples and was largely associated with the subcarapacial plexus sampling site. The reference intervals defined by the VetScan analyzer in this study can be used for clinical medicine and conservation of this tortoise species. Sampling site was identified as a factor significantly affecting some blood analytes in this study; this factor should thus be taken into consideration when assessing sulcata tortoise health status and using this testing methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood samples of 86 captive panther chameleons ( Furcifer pardalis) were collected in January and August from the ventral coccygeal vein in order to establish reference intervals of clinical healthy individuals under similar husbandry conditions for plasma biochemistry and hematology for this species. Significant differences were found in phosphorus, glucose, total protein, albumin, and white blood cell count between males and females in both seasons. Calcium, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase varied in only one season between genders. Significant differences between summer and winter values were present in both genders for uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein, creatine kinase, and albumin. Additionally, females showed seasonal variations for alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase whereas packed cell volume varied in males. Gravid females had significantly higher body weights and increased values for uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, and albumin. Cytomorphologic characteristics of blood cells in stained blood films were evaluated to serve as additional parameters for hematology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematology and plasma biochemistry parameters were determined for 34 captive-born California tiger salamanders ( Ambystoma californiense). The animals were manually restrained for general examination and venipuncture. This is the first comprehensive report of hematology and plasma biochemistry parameters in apparently healthy California tiger salamanders and may serve as a reference for clinical assessment and future study of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though one of the most widely kept elasmobranchs in human care, the cownose ray (CNR; Rhinoptera bonasus), remains a species with minimal published information on hematologic reference intervals. As part of a larger study investigating the health and nutrition of the CNR, this study established a preliminary data set of plasma chemistry and hematology values specific to animals recently caught from the wild and compared this data set (intake sample) to values obtained following a period of quarantine (27-40 days) in an aquarium (exit sample). Blood samples were collected from 47 wild female ( n = 46) and male ( n = 1) CNR caught in pound nets off the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina. Differences between intake and exit values were analyzed. Due to the preponderance of female animals, data were not analyzed for sex differences. Plasma biochemical profiles were performed and analyzed. A select number of complete blood cell counts were performed ( n = 24 from 12 animals). Statistically significant differences ( P < 0.05) specific to time of sampling were determined for packed cell volume, total solids, blood urea nitrogen, sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphorus, cholesterol, glucose, and aspartate aminotransferase. Values reported are a significant expansion on the existing limited data for CNRs and will serve as a reference for health assessment of individuals both in the wild and in exhibit populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which analyzes and assesses the health data of free-living eastern box turtles at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Maryland. Topics include evaluating the health, sex, and complete blood counts (CBCs) of the turtles, performing physical examinations on the turtles, and the biochemistry profile of Terrapene carolina carolina.

The article discusses a study analyzing the use of Abaxis Vetscan bench-top analyzer and i-STAT handheld analyzer for clinical evaluation of the Negev Desert tortoise to describe hematologic, plasma biochemistry and acid-base analytes for this species in Israel. Topics include use of physiologic parameters such as blood gas analytes in assessment of the efficiency of oxygenation of tissues, use of point-of-care portable blood analyzers, and morphometric measurements of the tortoises.

The article presents a study that establish hematologic and biochemical reference values for the yellow-marginated box turtle for conservation purposes. Study collected blood samples from the jugular veins of the turtles and data were analyzed using repeated measurements of analysis of variance. It found that cuora flavomarginata has lower alanine aminotransferase values compared with other chelonians.

In this article, the author focuses on a study related to the hematology, and plasma biochemistry of analytes in five age groups of reared sea turtles. Topics discussed include blood collection, packed cell volume, and white blood cell (WBC) counts. Other topics discussed include biochemical analysis of albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, hematology, and measurement of straight carapace length (SCL) by calipers.

The article presents information on a study related to smooth dogfish that are maintained by a zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana and are a demersal species of elasmobranch widely distributed throughout the western Atlantic Ocean. It informs that during the first few years at the zoo, the mortality rate of the dogfish was very high in adults regardless of the treatment approach. It further informs that the concern related to nutrition and its potential impact on a seemingly poor immunologic response of the fishes was also considered during the study.

The article presents a study on the hematology and clinical biochemistry values of green basilisk lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons). It states that 33 lizards of both male and female sexes were used in the study, in which 20 lizards in Costa Rica were used to determine blood cell counts, plasma, and whole blood biochemical analysis. It concludes that the hematologic and biochemical data from the study is useful in the health status evaluation of free-ranging B. plumifrons. Moreover, the point-of-care analyzer (VetScan) used in the study is a useful tool in the collection of data in the field.