title: Reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values of brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis).
abstract: Reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values were determined from 103 blood samples collected from 53 clinically healthy brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis). Female snakes had significantly higher mean plasma values for total solids, total protein, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), uric acid, and blood monocyte percentage than did males, whereas males had significantly higher mean plasma fibrinogen values. The variances for hematocrit, monocyte percentage, azurophil percentage, plasma total solids, plasma total protein, albumin, Ca, and P also differed significantly between sexes. The higher mean values and greater variances for plasma total protein, plasma total solids, Ca, and P in the female snakes were probably associated with yolk synthesis and accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Lamirande
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bratthauer
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D017812:Colubridae / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values