Symmetric Dimethylarginine (SDMA) Reference Range in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas)
IAAAM 2017
Shelly A. Marquardt1*; Michael T. Walsh2
1Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL, USA; 2Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA

Abstract

Renal pathology has been well documented in reptiles,1 but is limited in sea turtles. Serum uric acid is the standard for evaluating renal insufficiency in other reptiles and has been shown to be superior in sea turtles.2 Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has been proven to be a reliable biomarker for indicator of early identification of renal impairment and monitoring of chronic renal disease in humans, dogs, and cats.3,4 In order to establish a normal reference range for SDMA, 35 blood samples were collected from 7 resident and 22 rehabilitating green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), ranging in age from juvenile to adult, that were considered healthy at the time of exam. The blood was collected as part of routine health assessments in residents and pre-release bloodwork for rehabilitating turtles. Preliminary data shows a mean of 14.84 µg/dl, median of 15 µg/dl and a standard deviation of 3.52, giving a reference range of 7.96–22.04 µg/dl. Establishing a reference range is the first step in evaluating this new parameter in sea turtles. Further investigation is needed to correlate SDMA with uric acid abnormalities and histopathological evidence of renal pathology.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Clearwater Marine Aquarium sea turtle staff, interns, and volunteers for their assistance with these turtles.

* Presenting author

Literature Cited

1.  Zwart P. 2006. Renal pathology in reptiles. Vet Clin Exot Anim. 9:129–159.

2.  Jones CE, Stacy, NI, Wellehan JFX, et al. 2013. Diagnostic performance of plasma uric acid, magnesium and other biochemical parameters in the diagnosis of renal insufficiency in sea turtles. IAAAM 44th Annual Conference Proceedings, Sausalito, CA.

3.  Hall JA, Yerramilli M, Obare E, Yerramilli M, Jewell DE. 2014. Comparison of serum concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine as kidney function biomarkers in cats with chronic kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med. 28:1676–1683.

4.  Nabity MB, Lees GE, Boggess MM, Yerramilli M, Obare E, Yerramilli M, Rakitin A, Aguiar J, Relford R. 2015. Symmetric dimethylarginine assay validation, stability, and evaluation as a marker for the early detection of chronic kidney disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 29:1036–1044.

  

Speaker Information
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Shelly A. Marquardt
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater, FL, USA


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