TECH155-0308: Reptile Hematology

INSTRUCTOR:
Jenni Jenkins-Perez, LVT, CVT, BA

DATES:
March 19-April 11, 2008
Real Time Sessions: Tuesday evenings, March 25 and April 1; 9:00pm-10:30pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help the veterinary technician understand the basics of reptilian hematology. The course will include sample collection from snake, lizard, and chelonian species, and ideal anticoagulants to use for analysis. Also discussed are smearing and staining techniques, how to perform erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, and differential evaluation.

Jenni Jenkins-Perez, LVT, CVT has years of experience both in practice and personally with reptiles and amphibians. Her current position is in a clinical pathology laboratory. Email VSPNCE@vspn.org for information about the price breaks for hospitals that enroll 5 or more employees.

The course will have two 90-minute online sessions covering reptile hematology, online quizzes and suggested reading. All veterinary technicians and assistants interested in reptile hematology are welcome to take this course and join in on the online discussions. Having a basic knowledge of avian hematology is helpful, but not required. Space is limited so enroll early.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• identify the different locations for blood collection in reptiles.
• understand which anticoagulants work best for reptile species.
• understand the smearing and staining techniques needed for successful blood cell identification.
• learn basic erythrocyte and leukocyte counts using manual methods and be able to distinguish which method is most accurate for reptile species.
• establish a basic comfort level identifying the various leukocytes and be able to perform a differential evaluation.

TEXTBOOKS: There are no required texts for this course; however, the instructor has supplied a list of suggested references below:

Veterinary Technician text:

• Ballard, B., Cheek, R. (2003). Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician. Chapter 15. Blackwell Publishing. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=87574

Veterinarian texts:

• Campbell, T. and Ellis, C. (2007). Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology, 3rd ed. Chapter 2. Blackwell Publishing. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=82086
• McArthur, R., Wilkinson, R., & Meyer, J. (Eds.). (2004). Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles. Blackwell Publishing, Ltd. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=91896
• Feldman, B., Jain, N., Schalm Stein, C., & Zinkl, J. (2000). Schalm's Veterinary Hematology, 5th ed. Chapter 175. Blackwell Publishing. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99648
• Johnson-Delaney, C. & Harrson, L. (Eds.). (1996). Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook for Veterinarians-Reptile Section. Wingers Publishing.

Other resource papers

• Frye, F. (1991). Hematology as Applied to Clinical Reptile Medicine. Biomedical and Surgical Aspects of Captive Reptile Husbandry, Vol. 1. Krieger Publishing Company.
• Jenkins, J. (1995). Basic Avian Hematology: Techniques of Collection, Preparation, and Identification. Exotic Animals, A Veterinary Handbook. 126-130, 135. Veterinary Learning Systems, Co., Inc.
• Arnold J, Gargan C, & Belovarac J. (2007, September 6-10). Method validation study for total white blood cell counts: Natt-Herrick versus Eosinophil Unopette Methods. Proceedings of the 27th Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians meeting, Honolulu, HI.
• Jenkins, J. (1996, November). Fact or Artifact? A Study of Red Blood Cell inclusions in Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana). Proceedings of the 16th Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
• Wilmoth, K. (1991, March). Utilizing Toluidine Blue Stain for Direct Avian && Reptilian Blood Counts. reprinted in the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians Newsletter.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Sample collection, preparation, staining, and white blood cell estimates.
Content: This session will include blood collection sites commonly used with snakes, lizard, and chelonian species. Other topics covered this week include how to make blood smears adequate enough for differential evaluation, which stains are most effective for staining reptilian granulocytes, and a discussion regarding the inaccuracies of white blood cell estimates. At the end of the class practice counts will be assigned to prepare for the next week.

Week 2: Counting Methods and Differential Evaluation.
Content: This week's session will include the various manual counting methods commonly used for reptiles. The manual counts discussed include the Phloxine B counts (Formerly the Eosinophil Unopette method), Natt-Herrrick's counting of erythrocytes and leukocytes, and the Toluidine Blue method for RBC and WBC counting. The final portion of the class will cover differential evaluation and how to identify reptilian blood cells.

LIBRARY MATERIALS:
Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS:
Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 3

TUITION:
$59 ($53.00 early bird special if registered before March 5, 2008).
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Registration will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

** Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE: http://www.vspn.org/CE/MinReqs.htm

**For More Information on how our online CE courses work please read the following:
How to's of online CE: http://www.vspn.org/CE/VSPN_M02233.htm
Policies and Procedures: https://www.vin.com/Members/VSPN/Library/Misc/VSPN_M06292.htm

TO REGISTER:

1. Each enrollee must individually be a registered member of VSPN or VIN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free; VIN membership includes VSPN membership.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.

Note: "This course has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

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COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

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Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator
VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950, ext 187

Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org), ext 197 VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881

**For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

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