Abstract
The Reeve’s turtle (Mauremys reevesii) is one of the four freshwater turtle species endemic to Taiwan. Due to overharvesting and habitat destruction, the Reeve’s turtle is now nearly extinct in Taiwan, and the only stable population is currently restricted to Kinmen Island. The status of this turtle according to the IUCN Red List is currently listed as “endangered” and it is protected in Taiwan as an endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation Law. Hematology and blood biochemical parameters are very useful tools in clinical veterinary medicine; however, detailed information on hematologic variables and plasma biochemical profiles of M. reevesii has not been reported.
Reference ranges of hematologic and plasma biochemical parameters were established for 27 (12 male and 15 female) captive mature and clinically healthy Reeve’s turtles. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein from all individuals with samples collected in each of four seasons. Values collected in the fall are provided in Table 1. These blood profiles were further analyzed to determine the effects of sex and season. Significant sex differences were observed in AST, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, total protein, and triglyceride levels. Seasonal variations related to changes in food intake and metabolic function were noted in most parameters, but not the white blood cell count, AST, and ALT levels. The sex and seasonal differences were primarily associated with changes in female reproductive status and the lower temperature in winter (wintering).
Table 1. Hematology and biochemistry ranges for Mauremys reevesii in fall
|
|
All turtles
n=27
|
|
Parameter
|
Rangea
|
Mean
Medianb
|
SDc
|
|
Hb (g/dL)
|
4–7.4
|
5.8
|
0.8
|
|
PCV (%)
|
18–30
|
25b
|
-
|
|
RBC (106/µL)
|
0.44–0.86
|
0.63
|
0.11
|
|
MCV (fL)
|
244–547
|
398
|
74
|
|
MCH (pg)
|
63–132
|
95
|
16
|
|
MCHC (g/dL)
|
20–30
|
24b
|
-
|
|
WBC (103/µL)
|
7.7–26.6
|
12.8b
|
-
|
|
Heterophils (%)
|
13–66
|
37
|
15
|
|
Eosinophils (%)
|
0–1
|
-
|
-
|
|
Basophils (%)
|
26–82
|
55
|
16
|
|
Lymphocytes (%)
|
0–7
|
2
|
2
|
|
Monocytes (%)
|
1–9
|
5
|
2
|
|
Heterophils (103/µL)
|
1058–8058
|
5371
|
1899
|
|
Eosinophils (103/µL)
|
0–108
|
-
|
-
|
|
Basophils (103/µL)
|
2541–19391
|
8732
|
4527
|
|
Lymphocytes (103/µL)
|
0–708
|
196 b
|
-
|
|
Monocytes (103/µL)
|
238–2198
|
809
|
492
|
|
Total protein (g/dL)
|
2.9–5.5
|
3.7b
|
-
|
|
Albumin (g/dL)
|
0.8–1.9
|
1.2
|
0.3
|
|
Ca (mg/dL)
|
8.8–15.2
|
12.3
|
1.6
|
|
Triglyceride (mg/dL)
|
31–527
|
241b
|
-
|
|
LDH (U/L)
|
881–2414
|
1285
|
481
|
|
Phosphorus (mg/dL)
|
2.5–4.6
|
3.1
|
0.5
|
|
Creatinine (mg/dL)
|
0.1–0.2
|
0.2b
|
-
|
|
CK (U/L)
|
138–1153
|
511
|
239
|
|
Glucose (mg/dL)
|
36–106
|
66
|
16
|
|
Cholesterol (mg/dL)
|
45–210
|
128
|
49
|
|
BUN (mg/dL)
|
7–64
|
17b
|
-
|
|
GGT (U/L)
|
<5
|
-
|
-
|
|
AST (U/L)
|
78–409
|
204b
|
-
|
|
ALT (U/L)
|
3–26
|
13
|
6
|
|
ALKP (U/L)
|
40–121
|
60b
|
-
|
|
Uric acid (mg/dL)
|
1.3–3.4
|
1.8b
|
-
|
|
Na (mmol/L)
|
129–151
|
141
|
5
|
|
K (mmol/L)
|
3.3–5.5
|
4.5
|
0.5
|
|
Cl (mmol/L)
|
95–110
|
104
|
3
|
a Reference ranges were defined by minimum and maximum values or the mean±SD for normally distributed variables.
b For non-normally distributed variables, the reference ranges were defined by the median rather than the mean value.
c No standard deviations are presented for non-normally distributed variables.
PCV=packed cell volume; RBC=red blood cell; MCV=mean corpuscular volume; MCH=mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC=mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; WBC=white blood cell; LDH=lactate dehydrogenase; CK=creatine kinase; BUN=blood urea nitrogen; GGT=γ-glutamyltransferase; AST=aspartate aminotransferase; ALT=alanine aminotransferase; ALKP=alkaline phosphatase.