Comparative hematological and biochemical analysis of giant turtles from the Amazon farmed in poor and normal nutritional conditions.

Besides indicating the baseline values of the species, blood parameter assessments of chelonian may also be used as quick tools for diagnosing health status. An investigation was carried out to assess and compare red blood cells parameters, white blood cell (WBC) and total thrombocyte counts and certain blood biochemical parameters for freshwater turtles, Podocnemis expansa Schweigger, 1812 (Pelomedusidae) reared on normal (control group) and poor nutrition (malnourished group). For the malnourished turtles, a signififi cant decrease (P<0.05) in red blood cell counts was found, including hematocrit, plasma glucose, plasma total protein, cholesterol and urea levels, as well as WBC counts, azurophils and heterophils. Malnutrition did not alter the hemostasis, but caused severe normocytic-hypocromic anemia and marked immune depression, which were diagnosed here. This study was the fifi rst to characterize the physiological and immune status of giant turtles from the Amazon under adverse nutritional conditions

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: TAVARES-DIAS, M., OLIVEIRA-JÚNIOR, A. A., SILVA, M. G., MARCON, J. L., BARCELLOS, J. F. M.
Other Authors: MARCOS TAVARES DIAS, CPAF-AP; Antonio A. Oliveira-Junior, UFAM; Michele G. Silva, UFAM; Jaydione L. Marcon, UFAM; José F. M. Barcellos, UFAM.
Format: Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:English
eng
Published: 2010-01-08
Subjects:Tartaruga, Podocnemis expansa, Hematologia, Bioquímica animal, Nutrição animal, Amazonia.,
Online Access:http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/579990
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Summary:Besides indicating the baseline values of the species, blood parameter assessments of chelonian may also be used as quick tools for diagnosing health status. An investigation was carried out to assess and compare red blood cells parameters, white blood cell (WBC) and total thrombocyte counts and certain blood biochemical parameters for freshwater turtles, Podocnemis expansa Schweigger, 1812 (Pelomedusidae) reared on normal (control group) and poor nutrition (malnourished group). For the malnourished turtles, a signififi cant decrease (P<0.05) in red blood cell counts was found, including hematocrit, plasma glucose, plasma total protein, cholesterol and urea levels, as well as WBC counts, azurophils and heterophils. Malnutrition did not alter the hemostasis, but caused severe normocytic-hypocromic anemia and marked immune depression, which were diagnosed here. This study was the fifi rst to characterize the physiological and immune status of giant turtles from the Amazon under adverse nutritional conditions