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Disentangling Temporal and Environmental Effects on Hematological Values in Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis).
Ethan J Kessler1,2, Sarah J Baker1,2, Ellen Haynes2
1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Summary
Environmental temperature significantly impacts reptile hematology, affecting white blood cell counts and packed cell volume. These findings are crucial for interpreting reptile health assessments in diverse climates.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Herpetology
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Hematologic assessments are vital for evaluating health in ectothermic species.
- Reptile hematology is influenced by environmental factors like temperature and season.
- Limited research exists on specific environmental impacts on reptile blood parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of temperature and season on complete blood count parameters in Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis).
- To determine if environmental conditions or season are primary drivers of hematologic variation in captive snakes.
Main Methods:
- 17 captive Prairie Rattlesnakes were divided into two groups: constant 25°C and variable ambient temperatures (5°C-32°C).
- Blood samples were collected bi-monthly for 13 months.
- Parameters analyzed included packed cell volume (PCV), total solids (TS), and white blood cell count (WBC).
Main Results:
- White blood cell count (WBC) decreased with increasing mean prior 14-day temperature, with no seasonal effect.
- Higher temperatures led to increased lymphocytes and decreased heterophils and azurophils.
- Packed cell volume (PCV) decreased over time in the variable temperature group but remained stable in the control group.
- Total solids (TS) were higher in the control group, unaffected by temperature or season.
Conclusions:
- Environmental temperature, not season, is the primary driver of hematologic parameter variation in healthy captive snakes.
- These findings necessitate the inclusion of environmental conditions in the interpretation of reptile hematologic assessments.
- Understanding these variations is key to improving diagnostic utility in wild reptile populations.
