title: The hematology of captive Bobtail lizards (Tiliqua rugosa): blood counts, light microscopy, cytochemistry, and ultrastructure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bobtail lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) are native to Australia. The only previous study on the hematology of this species documented just 6 animals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to characterize the light microscopy, ultrastructure and cytochemistry of blood cells, and evaluate CBCs of captive Bobtail lizards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 2 consecutive summers, heparinized venous blood was collected from the ventral coccygeal vein of 46 clinically healthy, captive indoor- or outdoor-housed adult Bobtails. Complete blood cell counts and smear evaluations were performed, and cytochemical stains and transmission electron microscopy were used to further characterize blood cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The eosinophils of this species were uniformly vacuolated: a unique feature not previously reported in reptiles. Heterophils were the predominant leukocyte, with fewer lymphocytes, azurophilic and nonazurophilic monocytes, occasional eosinophils, and basophils. Thrombocytes were frequently clumped. Slight polychromasia (0-15% of erythrocytes) was typically present. Hemogregarine parasites were seen on some smears. The range of CBC results was often wide. The PCV ranged from 11% to 38%. Total plasma proteins by refractometry were between 3.5 and 7.8 g/dL. Hemoglobin ranged between 2.6 and 12.6 g/dL by the modified hemoglobin-hydroxylamine method. Manual RBC count was 0.35-1.27 × 106/μL, and WBC count was 2.86-22.66 × 103/μL. Bobtail lizards housed outdoors had lower PCVs than indoor-housed animals. Bobtails with hemogregarine infections had lower PCVs than noninfected lizards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ranges for CBC data were often very wide, influenced by preanalytic and analytic factors. Hemogregarine infection is associated with a decreased PCV, suggesting that some hemogregarine species are pathogenic in this population.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moller
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaál
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006405:Hematology; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012031:Refractometry / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Blood cells; hemogregarine; reptile; vacuolated eosinophils