Acta Vet. Brno 2006, 75: 49-55

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200675010049

Blood Cell Morphology and Plasma Biochemistry of the Captive European Pond Turtle Emys orbicularis

K. Metin1, O. Türkozan1, F. Kargin2, Y. K. Basumoglu1, E. Taskavak3, S. Koca1

1Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Science and Arts, Department of Biology, Aydin, Turkey
2Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Aydin, Turkey
3Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey

Received January 10, 2005
Accepted November 10, 2005

The morphological characteristics of peripheral blood cells, micronucleated erythrocytes counts and plasma biochemistry profile were examined in ten healthy captive European pond turtles Emys orbicularis. Blood samples were obtained from the caudal vein. The Wright staining method was used for the classification of the blood cells. Mature erythrocytes of captive Emys orbicularis were nucleated ellipsoidal cells (21.7 ±1.27μm × 13.2 ±1.12 μm) with pink cytoplasm. The nucleus (6.9 ± 0.78 μm × 5.4 ± 0.65 μm) was centrally located and stained dark purple. Seven different types of blood cells were determined: erythrocytes, thrombocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and heterophils. The micronucleated erythrocyte (MNE) values were 0.0016 and 0.003 for the males and females, respectively. The MNE results were presented as the mean frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes per 1000 cells per animal. The mean plasma concentrations in the total of specimens were as follows: total protein (25 g/L), albumin (7.2 g/L), globulin (17.8 g/L), glucose (2.91 mmol/L), calcium (2.32 mmol/L), phosphorus (1.55 mmol/L), creatinine (46.85 μmol/L), urea (10.93 mmol/L) , triglycerides (0.44 mmol/L), cholesterol (1.48 mmol/L), sodium (125.76 mmol/L), potassium (3.98 mmol/L), chloride (93.94 mmol/L), iron (13.34 μmol/L) and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (2.14 μkat/L), alanine aminotransferase (0.15 μkat/L), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (2.15 U/L), amylase (8.09 μkat/L), lactate dehydrogenase (19.93 μkat/L). We found sex-dependent differences only in ALT [(0.21 μkat/L and 0.10 μkat/L for the males and females, respectively) (t = 3,107; df = 14; p < 0.05)] value in the blood biochemical profile for healthy Emys orbicularis. We suggest that the biochemical profile described in the present study may be used as a standard profile for healthy Emys orbicularis kept in captivity.

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