title: Characterization and quantification of the influence of season and gender on plasma chemistries of Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni, Gmelin 1789).
abstract: The present study is the first to monitor plasma chemistries of a group of 30 Hermann's tortoises (HTs) over two summer seasons to characterize and quantify seasonal and gender-related influences. The following analytes were analyzed: ALT, ALP, AST, BA, CA, CHO, CK, LDH, GLU, GLDH, P, TP, TRIG, urea and uric acid. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, mean values, confidence intervals were calculated. The overall results showed distinct patterns and somewhat unexpected results concerning the plasma chemistry changes induced by season and gender in a majority of routine biochemical analytes. TRIG, CHO, CA, and P were significantly higher in females. AST, ALT, BA, LDH and GLDH showed an increase in males in midsummer. ALP showed a significant and analogous seasonal variation for both sexes. GLU showed a moderate increase during midsummer. Uric acid and urea concentrations showed a distinct seasonal variation. For some analytes, fitted curves could be calculated describing the seasonal variation.
authors.affiliation: The Clinic for Avian, Reptile, and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A 1210 Vienna, Austria. alexandra.scope@vetmeduni.ac.at
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scope
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwendenwein
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schauberger
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001317:Austria; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid; D010758:Phosphorus; D002784:Cholesterol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium