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Background: The maintenance of snakes in captivity for venom extraction and antivenom production is essential due to the high incidence of snake envenomation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Hematology and biochemistry are valuable in the laboratory evaluation of these animals, which indirectly improves their health and welfare., Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the reference intervals for hematologic and plasma biochemistry variables in Bothrops pubescens snakes kept in captivity and to examine sex variation., Methods: Blood samples from 20 healthy B pubescens snakes were collected for hematologic and biochemistry evaluations and compared between sexes. The sample analysis consisted of a complete blood count using manual methods previously described, and blood cell morphology evaluation. Plasma biochemistry consisted of albumin, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and total plasma protein measurements., Results: Hematologic and biochemical variables were demonstrated to be different when compared with previously published values. A difference between the sexes was not observed for B pubescens., Conclusions: Given that many illnesses can lead to laboratory alterations, knowledge about the reference intervals of healthy captive animals is essential to evaluate the health status and correct management of these snakes., (© 2021 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

A 15-year-old captive female Urutu snake (Bothrops alternatus) was presented with anorexia, apathy, dehydration, pale mucous membranes and marked enlargement of the caudal third of the coelomic cavity. Radiographs and ultrasonography were suggestive of faecal impaction or neoplasia. Post-mortem findings consisted of solid faecal impaction of the intestines, secondary to obstruction caused by a rectal tumour. Cytological examination of impression smears of the tumour revealed polygonal to round neoplastic cells arranged in clusters in an abundant extracellular mucinous matrix. Histologically, there was transmural growth of neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in small nests or individually and immersed in abundant extracellular mucin lakes. The neoplastic cells were immunopositive for cytokeratin. Clinical and pathological aspects indicated a diagnosis of mucinous rectal adenocarcinoma., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)