title: Evaluation of plasma fibrinogen concentration as a diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To critically evaluate plasma fibrinogen concentration as a diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective induced-disease model and prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma samples from 12 purpose-bred red-eared sliders and 153 farm-raised red-eared sliders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A modification of the Jacobsson method was developed to measure fibrinogen concentration in platelet-poor plasma from red-eared sliders. Purpose-bred turtles had been inoculated with a ranavirus (n = 4) or sterile PBS solution (8) as part of another study. Farm-raised red-eared sliders were categorized as healthy (n = 138) or overtly ill (15) on the basis of physical examination findings at the time of blood sample collection. Samples from 124 of the 138 healthy red-eared sliders were used to establish a fibrinogen concentration reference interval as measured by the modified Jacobsson method. Fibrinogen concentrations in ranavirus-infected and physically ill turtles were compared with those of healthy turtles to determine whether fibrinogen concentration would be a useful diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modified Jacobsson method was reliably used to measure fibrinogen concentration. The fibrinogen concentration reference interval from healthy reproductively active female red-eared sliders was right skewed. Fibrinogen concentration did not differ significantly between healthy red-eared sliders and ranavirus-infected or overtly ill red-eared sliders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A reference interval for red-eared slider plasma fibrinogen concentration was established and partitioned by sex to account for considerable right skewing observed for females. Fibrinogen concentration was not a useful indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders with ranavirus infection or other overt illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802.
authors.forename: A Russell
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Allender
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: MacNeill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D017995:Ranavirus; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen