Comparison of Blood Values in Foraging, Nesting, and Stranded Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) Along the Coast of Georgia, Usa

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The health status of 83 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta; 39 foraging, 31 nesting, and 13 stranded turtles) was analyzed using physical examinations, hematology, plasma biochemistry, plasma protein electrophoresis, and toxicologic parameters. Significant differences were noted in a number of health parameters between turtles exhibiting each of these behaviors. On physical examinations, stranded turtles had the highest prevalence of heavy carapace epibiont loads, miscellaneous abnormalities, emaciation, and weakness. Differences in hematologic values included a lower packed cell volume, higher number of lymphocytes, and lower number of monocytes in stranded turtles; lower white blood cell counts in foraging turtles; and significant differences in total solid values among turtles exhibiting all behaviors with the lowest values in stranded turtles and the highest values in nesting turtles. Differences in plasma biochemistry values included the highest uric acid, creatine kinase, and CO 2 values in stranded turtles; the highest glucose and potassium values in foraging turtles; and the highest cholesterol and triglyceride values, and lowest alanine aminotransferase, in nesting turtles. Differences in total protein, albumin, and globulin were found using plasma biochemistry values, with lowest values in stranded turtles and highest values in nesting females, whereas differences in blood urea nitrogen between turtles included the lowest values in nesting turtles and the highest in foraging turtles. Plasma organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyl levels were below their limits of quantification in the 39 foraging, 11 nesting, and three stranded turtles tested. A statistically significant difference was noted in the level of whole blood mercury between the 23 foraging and 12 nesting turtles tested. There was no difference in arsenic or lead levels between turtles exhibiting any of the three behaviors. Although a few limitations exist with the present study and include unknown ambient temperatures, turtle handling times that varied from 15 min to 53 min per turtle, and the use of a different laboratory for processing complete blood counts and plasma biochemistries in stranded versus foraging and nesting turtles, we provide baseline blood values for two cohorts (foraging and nesting) of loggerhead sea turtles on the coast of Georgia. Additionally, we demonstrate significant differences in clinical findings and blood parameters between foraging, nesting, and stranded loggerhead turtles in the region.

Inside the Redbox: Applications of haematology in wildlife monitoring and ecosystem health assessment

“…A less specific but informative measurement is also the comparison of protein profiles by using agarose gel electrophoresis (e.g. Deem et al, 2009). Precise protein detection can, however, be obtained by enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISAs), although these assays may be constrained in some species by a lack of specificity in the available antibodies (Evans, 2008).…”

Biometria corporal e parâmetros hematológicos de Trachemys scripta elegans e Trachemys dorbignyi (Testudines: Emydidae) criadas em cativeiro em Petrolina, Pernambuco

“…Em tartarugas o estado de saúde pode ser avaliado através do hemograma (Pires et al 2006, Deem et al 2009), por isto os valores hematológicos têm sido investigados em tartarugas marinhas (Pires 2007, Casal et al 2009, Deem et al 2009, Pires et al 2009, Santos et al 2009, Snoddy et al 2009, Flint et al 2010) e de água doce (Brites 2002, Tesserolli 2004, Hidalgo-Vila et al 2007, Ferronato 2008, Silva 2011. Contudo, no gênero Trachemys os poucos estudos existentes limitam a discussão dos resultados (Alves 2013), pois fatores como alterações no habitat, introdução de espécies invasoras, poluição ambiental, uso insustentá-vel, mudança climática global (Gibbons et al 2000, Ruiz et al 2002, sexo, tamanho, idade e alimentação (Deem et al 2009); técnicas utilizadas, tempo da amostra, manejo do animal, esforço físico, estado nutricional, condição fisioló-gica e mental, sazonalidade e contenção química podem levar a grandes variações nos testes realizados por diferentes laboratórios (Hawkey & Dennet 1989). Por isto, embora os estudos hematológicos comparativos de animais doentes e sadios possam gerar informações importantes para o manejo e conservação das espécies, estas informações terão aplicabilidade limitada se não for estabelecido o padrão de normalidade para determinada população, bem como a fisiologia e as alterações patológicas e como estas se refletem nos parâmetros laboratoriais (Santos et al 2009).…”

Population status of freshwater turtles across a PCB contamination gradient

“…Deem et al 2009). Radio-transmitters were attached to 22 individuals captured in baited hoop nets in June and July 2008: 11 turtles (3 females and 8 males) in the reference river segment and 11 turtles (2 females and 9 males) in the contaminated river segment.…”