Open AccessHematologycal and blood biochemistry parameters of captive big-headed amazon river turtles, Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Testudines: Podocnemididae)
Author(s) -
Neiana Pereira Anselmo,
Mônica Ferreira de Lima França,
Márcio Quara de Carvalho Santos,
Jackson Pantoja Lima,
Cleide Karoline Pereira da Silva,
Paulo Henrique Rocha Aride,
Adriano Teixeira de Oliveira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta biológica colombiana/acta biológica colombiana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.184
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1900-1649
pISSN - 0120-548X
DOI - 10.15446/abc.v26n2.80616
Subject(s) - mean corpuscular volume , sexual dimorphism , hematocrit , biology , mean corpuscular hemoglobin , mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration , hemoglobin , population , zoology , veterinary medicine , physiology , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , environmental health
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.