Perfil hemoglobínico e bioquímico de Trachemys scripta elegans mantidas em cativeiro

Abstract

The species Trachemys scripta elegans, popularly known as the red-eared turtle, is of great interest to herpetoculturists and veterinarians, as it is an exotic animal that invades the Brazilian fauna and consequently poses a potential risk to native chelonians and also to public health. Reptile medicine is in constant development, and so there is a demand for studies that propose to establish reference guides on the blood profile of these healthy animals in captivity, which facilitates the interpretation of laboratory tests when there are clinical signs and symptoms. The blood count and biochemistry exam provide accurate information about the physiology and health status of the patient, and the execution is quick and low cost for the tutors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of determining the hemoglobin content by means of the packed cell volume/hematocrit. As well as the analytical stability of this intraerythrocyte protein, when stored in sodium heparin or K2 EDTA, at different storage times, under refrigeration. Furthermore, to investigate the influence of gender on biochemical elements and the analytical stability of these dosages, when subjected to different storage times, under freezing. Thus contributing to generate standardized data in the literature that may help in the investigation of diseases in this species, as well as in other chelonians, especially those potentially in the process of extinction. For this purpose, 30 specimens of Trachemys scripta elegans (15 males and 15 females), adults, healthy, kept in captivity, were analyzed. The hematocrit ratio versus plasma hemoglobin concentration, dosed in sodium heparin, in practice, it is not very efficient, it is not possible in this species, to use the hematocrit to estimate the hemoglobin content, which can be dosed within 72 hours after collection, when stored a (4ºC), in both anticoagulants. As for sex, statistically significant differences were found for the elements total calcium, Ca:P ratio, ionized calcium (Ca++), cholesterol, triglycerides and creatinine, with higher values in females and AST and LDH in males. It was also verified that total proteins, albumin, globulins, A:G ratio, phosphorus, Ca:P ratio, magnesium, glucose, uric acid, urea, amylase, ALT, AST, LDH and CK, suffered interference over time of storage. Analytes such as total protein, A:G ratio, total calcium, phosphorus, Ca:P ratio, Ca++, iron, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, urea, amylase, FAL, LDH and GGT can be evaluated a little over a month after the freeze. Glucose is stable for up to 16 days, albumin and globulins for around 8 days and AST for 4 days post-freezing. While magnesium, amylase, ALT and CK are better evaluated in fresh samples. The methodology carried out in this study is in accordance with the ethical precepts in research with animal use, recommended by the National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation (CONCEA), and the research project was accepted by the Committee on Ethics in the Use of Animals of the Federal University of Uberlândia (CEUA-UFU), protocol number 031/21 and by the Biodiversity Authorization and Information System (SISBIO), number 74698-3.