Hematologic parameters of captive Bothrops atrox (Squamata: viperidae)

Abstract

The breeding of venomous snakes in captivity for research purposes and mainly as a source of pharmaceutical products highlights the need to determine hematological parameters for monitoring and ensuring a healthy breeding populationThe complete blood count is used to help diagnose alterations such as anemia, inflammatory diseases, parasitemia, hematopoietic disorders, hemostatic and toxicological changes, as well as bacterial and viral inclusions. Thus, the objective of this study was to define reference parameters for complete blood count in Bothrops atrox snakes. Blood samples were collected from 20 specimens of B. atrox from the Pentapharm do Brasil commercial breeding facility for laboratory examination. Mean values and standard deviation were: hematocrit 33.6 ± 5.47%, hemoglobin 10.81 ± 2.07g/dL, total number of erythrocytes 0.59 ± 0.1 x 106/mm3, leukocytes 11387.5 ± 3279.2/mm3 and thrombocytes 28175 ± 6320/mm3. No significant difference was observed between males and females and heterophils were the predominant leukocyte cell type.

Hematology and biochemistry parameters of the Central American bushmaster (Lachesis stenophrys) under human care in Costa Rica

“…In general, most of the hematological parameters do not differ significantly from those of other tropical vipers, and the leukocyte distribution is similar to that of Crotalus durissus , B. leucurus , Bothrops jararaca , and Bothoriopoides jararacussu , where lymphocytes are the most prevalent cell population, followed by azurophils. However, for example, Bothrops ammodytes have lymphocytes as the first cell but eosinophils and then heterophils as the second and third cells, leaving the azurophil as the fourth cell population, which is different from what Pereira et al (2022) found for Bothrops atrox , where heterophils were the first line, followed by lymphocytes. Although Lachesis is a genus confined to tropical areas, it is more closely related phylogenetically to the genera Ophryacus (a genus endemic to Mexico) and Agkistrodon ( Castoe and Parkinson, 2006 ; Alencar et al ., 2016 ; Pyron, 2017 ); therefore, it is probably more accurate to compare its parameters with those of copperheads.…”

“…Most of the information on hematology and blood biochemistry in neotropical vipers comes from studies carried out in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Costa Rica ( Troiano et al , 1997 , 1999 , 2000 , 2001 ; Grego et al , 2006 ; Rameh-de-Albuquerque et al , 2007 ; Silva et al , 2010 ; Ghilardi and Zacariotti, 2013 ; Glaser et al , 2013 ; Gómez et al ., 2016 ; Trujillo et al ., 2016 ; Pereira et al , 2022 ). These investigations were made for the genera Crotalus , Bothrops , Bothropoides, and Caudisona , obtaining ranges of values.…”

“…Biochemistry parameters are also similar when compared with some of the investigations mentioned above ( Troiano et al , 1999 ; Grego et al , 2006 ; Rameh-de-Albuquerque et al , 2007 ; Silva et al , 2010 ; Ghilardi and Zacariotti, 2013 ; Glaser et al , 2013 ; Gómez et al , 2016 ; Trujillo et al ., 2016 ; Pereira et al , 2022 ); however, comparing different biochemistry results done with different equipment may be handled with care, since there can be an important degree of heterogeneity, especially from in-house analyzers ( Campbell, 2015 ). Thus, every clinician must take into consideration the specific methodology because these differences would influence the interpretation of test results and may affect patient management ( Campbell, 2015 ).…”