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1 September 2018 REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE, LACTATE, FIBRINOGEN, HEMATOLOGY, AND PLASMA PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY CAPTIVE GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS)
Justin F. Rosenberg, James F.X. Wellehan,, Sarah E. Crevasse, Carolyn Cray, Nicole I. Stacy
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Abstract

Currently available tests for the diagnosis of inflammatory disease in reptiles are limited and poorly sensitive. However, a number of hematological and plasma biochemical analytes are validated in the diagnosis of inflammation in mammals. The objective of this study was to establish reference intervals for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate, heat-precipitated fibrinogen, hematology, and plasma protein electrophoresis based on total protein by biuret method in 23 clinically healthy, captive gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) after successful rehabilitation and to determine differences by age, sex, and season. In order to investigate biological differences, samples were collected in April, July, and November. There were no sex differences in any measured analyte; however, there were significant differences by age and season. Immature animals (<2 kg) had significantly higher total protein, albumin : globulin ratio, pre-albumin, albumin, and α-1 globulin than adults. Tortoises sampled in the spring season had significantly higher total solids (refractometer) and lower eosinophils compared with animals sampled in the summer. Further investigation is required to determine the clinical utility of these analytes in the diagnosis of inflammation in this species.

Copyright 2018 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Justin F. Rosenberg, James F.X. Wellehan,, Sarah E. Crevasse, Carolyn Cray, and Nicole I. Stacy "REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE, LACTATE, FIBRINOGEN, HEMATOLOGY, AND PLASMA PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY CAPTIVE GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 49(3), 520-527, (1 September 2018). https://doi.org/10.1638/2017-0183.1
Accepted: 18 January 2018; Published: 1 September 2018
KEYWORDS
gopher tortoise
Gopherus polyphemus
hematology
Inflammation
plasma protein electrophoresis
reference intervals
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