Serum and urine biochemistry of Central Asian tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi)

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to determine plasma and urine biochemical analytes in clinically healthy Central Asian tortoises. Fifteen apparently healthy adult tortoises from both sexes weighted 1,050.6 ± 81.4 g (935–1,155 g) were studied. Blood samples were collected from dorsal coccygeal veins into tubes containing EDTA. Plasma and urine concentrations of glucose, total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, bilirubin, and ammonia were determined using standard methods. The results of plasma biochemistry indicated that the concentrations of total protein, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, bilirubin, and ammonia were 3.96 ± 0.15 g/l, 73.49 ± 16.06, 249.26 ± 20.2, 87.87 ± 20.65, 1.87 ± 0.09, 155.86 ± 35.71, 0.69 ± 0.15, 11.92 ± 1.49, 10.99 ± 0.51, 0.67 ± 0.07, and 0 mg/dl, respectively. Those of urine samples were 0.715 ± 0.67 g/l, 0, 0, 0, 9.97 ± 1.91, 262.65 ± 35.97, 9.52 ± 0.96, 6.16 ± 0.795, 0, 1.39 ± 0.15, and 0 mg/dl, respectively. Some biochemical analytes were significantly different in this species in comparison with the other studied tortoises, suggesting that the species-specific normal values should be taken into account for health evaluation and/or diagnosis of diseases and abnormalities in tortoises. Considering the nitrogenous excretory analytes, we concluded that Central Asian tortoise could be considered as strict ureotelic reptiles.