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PLASMA BIOCHEMISTRY PROFILES OF WILD WESTERN TIGER SNAKES (NOTECHIS SCUTATUS OCCIDENTALIS) BEFORE AND AFTER SIX
Damian C Lettoof1, Fabien Aubret1,2, Francis Spilsbury1
1School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia 6102.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
|April 6, 2021
Summary
Urban wildlife health may not differ significantly from nonurban wildlife, as shown in tiger snakes. Captivity improved body mass and altered plasma profiles, suggesting a depuration period reveals healthier animal biochemistry.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Environmental Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Urban wildlife face health challenges from human-induced stressors like pollution and habitat loss.
- Plasma biochemistry is a potential indicator for assessing wildlife health differences between urban and nonurban environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare plasma biochemistry profiles of urban and nonurban western tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus occidentalis).
- To evaluate the impact of a 6-month captive depuration period on snake health and plasma profiles.
Main Methods:
- Collected western tiger snakes from urbanized and natural wetlands.
- Analyzed plasma biochemistry and DNA damage before and after a 6-month captive period with controlled conditions.
- Monitored body mass index (BMI) and parasite load.
Main Results:
- No significant initial differences in plasma profiles between urban and nonurban snakes, despite urban snakes having lower BMI.
- Captivity led to significant improvements in BMI and notable changes in plasma profiles for both groups.
- Initial variation in DNA damage was higher in snakes from the natural wetland; overall DNA damage decreased slightly post-captivity.
Conclusions:
- A captive depuration period may provide a more accurate assessment of healthy animal plasma profiles by mitigating environmental stressors.
- Plasma biochemistry alone may not fully capture the health disparities between urban and nonurban snakes without considering physiological changes post-stressor removal.
