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Most haematological trials focusing on green iguanas have had the form of one-off blood sample-taking analysis. Our project therefore set out to perform a long-term ontogenetic trial on blood-related animals kept in identical conditions. The trial involved 11 green iguanas (Iguana iguana rhinolopha), 5 males and 6 females, from a single clutch. The reptiles were kept in experimental terraria with a specific light regime (12 h/12 h), at temperature ranging from 24 to 35°C and air humidity from 60 to 80%. The health status of the iguanas was monitored at regular intervals. At the age of 14 to 36 months, the iguanas were sampled for blood at intervals of at least 30 days. Total red blood cell and white blood cells counts were performed manually, using haemocytometer with the Natt and Herrick's solution; packed cell volume (PCV) was established using the microhaematocrit method; haemoglobin concentration was determined spectrophotometrically by using a standard cyanmethaemoglobin method. The leukocyte differential counts were evaluated and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were established. No seasonal changes of the haematological indices were observed. No significant differences in the haematological indices between male and female subpopulations were found. As to the number of erythrocytes, a statistically significant drop (p < 0.01) was observed comparing the data at 14 to 15 months of age (1.64 ± 0.58; 1.17 ± 0.18 10 12 /l) with those at 34 to 36 months (1.01 ± 0.14; 0.88 ± 0.12; 0.93 ± 0.08 10 12 /l). Apart from that, we recorded a statistically significant (p < 0.01) drop in packed cell volume (PCV) comparing the figures at 14 to 18 months (0.39 ± 0.04; 0.38 ± 0.03; 0.39 ± 0.04 l/l) with those obtained at 34 to 35 months of age of the animals (0.32 ± 0.03; 0.35 ± 0.02 l/l). On the other hand, our results confirmed a statistically significant (p < 0.01) rise in haemoglobin concentration comparing the data at 23 to 24 months (73.1 ± 7.2; 64.5 ± 8.8 g/l) with those at 35 to 36 months (92.5 ± 7.4; 94.0 ± 4.6 g/l). A similar statistically significant rise (p < 0.01) was confirmed for computed red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC), too. The physiological basis underlying these changes remains to be examined in the future. Reptiles, blood, erythrocytes, haemoglobin, leukocyte differential countsThere is a number of factors complicating interpretation of tests in reptiles. One of the main sources of difficulty is the fact that establishing normal reference values for exotic animals is a complicated task (Walton 2001). Apart from mature blood cells, periferal blood of healthy reptiles contains immature elements, too (Sypek and Borysenko 1988;Frye 1991;Campbell 1996). Automated methods for determining total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts in reptiles fail to account for the nuances resulting from the fact that all the cells in the peripheral blood are nucleated. Values obtained in this way can thus be regarded only as preliminary. Fo...

Nine Bornean river turtles (Orlitia borneensis, Gray, 1873) suffering from lethargy, ulcerations and caseous necrosis of the plastron were evaluated for haematology and plasma chemistry. Intra-erythrocytic haemogregarine parasites were associated with anaemia, low haemoglobin, basophilia, eosinophilia, heterophilia and azurophilia. After eight months of treatment consisting of antibiotics, debridement and scrubbing of lesions with enilconazole or povidone iodine, rehydration, deworming and tube feeding, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, heterophils and azurophils returned to the normal ranges. Haematocrit, RBC and haemoglobin concentration were under the normal ranges in 24 months. A progressive decrease in haemogregarine parasitaemia was also seen, however, haematologic changes could not be definitely attributed to these parasites.

The trial involved eleven 10-month-old green iguanas (Iguana iguana rhinolopha, 5 males/6 females) from a single clutch of captive breeding program. Lizards were housed in an experimental room and maintained in terraria (75 cm × 85 cm × 85 cm), with a constant light/temperature/air humidity regime (12 h/12 h, 24-35 °C, 60-80%). The body condition and health status of the iguanas was monitored at regular intervals. At the age of 34 months three females laid eggs spontaneously whereas the other three females suffering from pre-ovulatory follicle stasis (POFS) were ovariectomized (OVE) at the end of 35 months. Within the period of the reproductive activity (February -March, November-January) plasma concentrations of calcium, cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in females than in males. Significantly higher concentrations of calcium and triglycerides were found in plasma samples of POFS females than in healthy females after oviposition. Plasma concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in intact females than in OVE females. The mechanism of hormonal control for seasonal changes of calcium, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in blood of female green iguana remains to be examined in the future. Reptiles, calcium, cholesterol, triglycerides, vitellogenesis, follicular stasisPlasma biochemistry in green iguanas has been a subject of interest for a number of authors (Dessauer 1970;Anderson 1992;Barten 1993;Divers et al. 1996;Wagner and Wetzel 1999;Bruder 1998;Harr et al. 2001). Results of previous studies show a significant degree of variation due to different animal selection, methods and technical differences in blood sample treatment (Campbell 1996;Köhler 1996; R e dro be and MacDonald 1999; K ubalek 2000;Harr et al. 2001;Walton 2001;Barten 2002;Knotek et al. 2002;Jacobson 2003). Most trials so far consisted in analysing blood from one-off sample-takings. The goal of our trial therefore was performing a long-term study on blood-related animals kept under identical conditions. Materials and Methods AnimalsA group of eleven 10 months-old green iguanas (Iguana iguana rhinolopha, 5 males/6 females) from a single clutch of captive breeding program was included in this trial. Lizards were housed in an experimental room and maintained in terraria (75 cm × 85 cm × 85 cm), with a specific light regime (12h/12 h, 100 W bulb + UV lamp Repti-Glo, Hagen); iguanas housed in groups (two females and one male), the temperature ranged between 24 and 35 °C and air humidity between 60 and 80%. The iguanas were fed every day. The diet consisted of common dandelion leaves, carrots, tomatoes, fruits, lettuce, Chinese cabbage and cottage cheese mixed with calcium powder and pelleted commercial chow. Control of pregnancy, ovariectomyThe body condition and health status of the iguanas was monitored at regular intervals. The coelomic cavity was controlled manually with gently palpation of the body wall. At the age of 34 months three females laid fertile...