Blood gases, biochemistry, and hematology of Galapagos green turtles (Chelonia mydas).
The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, is an endangered marine chelonian with a circum-global distribution. Reference blood parameter intervals have been published for some chelonian species, but baseline hematology, biochemical, and blood gas values are lacking from the Galapagos sea turtles. Analyses were done on blood samples drawn from 28 green turtles captured in two foraging locations on San Cristóbal Island (14 from each site). Of these turtles, 20 were immature and of unknown sex; the other eight were males (five mature, three immature). A portable blood analyzer (iSTAT) was used to obtain near immediate field results for pH, lactate, pO2, pCO2, HCO3-, Hct, Hb, Na, K, iCa, and Glu. Parameter values affected by temperature were corrected in two ways: (1) with standard formulas; and (2) with auto-corrections made by the iSTAT. The two methods yielded clinically equivalent results. Standard laboratory hematology techniques were employed for the red and white blood cell counts and the hematocrit determination, which was also compared to the hematocrit values generated by the iSTAT. Of all blood analytes, only lactate concentrations were positively correlated with body size. All other values showed no significant difference between the two sample locations nor were they correlated with body size or internal temperature. For hematocrit count, the iSTAT blood analyzer yielded results indistinguishable from those obtained with high-speed centrifugation. The values reported in this study provide baseline data that may be useful in comparisons among populations and in detecting changes in health status among Galapagos sea turtles. The findings might also be helpful in future efforts to demonstrate associations between specific biochemical parameters and disease.
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
Gregory A
GA
Lewbart
University San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Maximilian
M
Hirschfeld
University San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Judith
J
Denkinger
University San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Karla
K
Vasco
University San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Nataly
N
Guevara
Galapagos National Park Service, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Juan
J
García
University San Francisco de Quito, Galapagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Juanpablo
J
Muñoz
Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Kenneth J
KJ
Lohmann
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood*; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004484:Ecuador; D006304:Health Status; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood*
D001639:Bicarbonates; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019344:Lactic Acid