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Published on: November 6, 2016
Temporal variance in hematologic and plasma biochemical reference intervals for free-ranging eastern box turtles
Steven J A Kimble1, Rod N Williams
1Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. sjkimble@gmail.com
Abstract:
Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) populations are in decline, likely due to anthropogenic forces and disease, necessitating hematologic and biochemical data from healthy individuals for evaluation of wild populations. We repeatedly sampled 21 free-ranging eastern box turtles from May to September 2009 in the spring, summer, and fall to establish temporal hematologic and biochemical reference intervals. Packed cell volume, aspartate aminotransferase, and potassium levels declined significantly as the active season progressed. High levels of albumin, globulin, and calcium coincided with the presence of eggs in females. These reference intervals should provide baseline data for the clinical evaluation of wild box turtles presented for veterinary care or for studies of wild populations.
