Abstract

Hematology and plasma biochemistries are valuable for monitoring animal health, but many environmental and procedural factors can have variable effects on reported values. In mammals, lipemic blood from sampling too soon after an animal has fed can have substantial effects on biochemical values. Biochemical values in reptiles may be affected by species, age, season, and nutritional state.^1-6 However, fasting status is not routinely taken into account when collecting blood from reptiles, including sea turtles. This project evaluated 2-hour postprandial blood sampling in green (Chelonia mydas) and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles to investigate the effects of feeding on hematological and plasma biochemical values.

Ten juvenile green turtles and ten juvenile Kemp's ridley turtles were fasted overnight, and were manually restrained for venipuncture from the external jugular vein. The turtles were allowed to feed, and a second blood sample was collected 2 hours postprandial. Samples were evaluated for PCV, WBC differential, and plasma biochemistry profiles. Pre- and postprandial values for each species were individually compared using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test, followed by the sequential Bonferroni technique to reduce type I error.

Feeding had no significant effects on hematology values in either species, nor did it have an effect on plasma biochemistry values in Kemp's ridley sea turtles. In postprandial green turtles, there were statistically significant increases in total protein, albumin, ALP, AST, ALT, amylase, and cholesterol, and a significant decrease in chloride. Although statistically significant changes were observed in green turtles, the median percent differences between pre- and postprandial values did not exceed 10% for any of these analytes. These changes were therefore not likely to alter clinical interpretation or treatment course.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the volunteers at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center for their dedication and work with sick and injured sea turtles, and for their help with the turtles during this study. We also thank two classes of veterinary students for technical assistance with sample collection and processing.

References

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