Hematological value of green turtles from Brazil

Hematological value of green turtles from Brazil

aq021
Hematological Values of Juvenile Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Captured in the Coast of Angra
Dos Reis and Paraty, South of Rio De Janeiro State
Melissa Marcon1; Humberto M. Gitirana1,2; Max R. Werneck1*; Gisele Lobo-Hajdu1,2
1
Projeto PROMONTAR-ANGRA, Vila Residencial de Mambucaba, Paraty - RJ, Brasil; 2Laboratório de
Genética Marinha (LGMar), Departamento de Genética, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro,
Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brasil
ABSTRACT
This study presents the hematological values of 33 juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) caught between June
2013 and June 2014 by the Project PROMONTAR-ANGRA on the coast of Angra dos Reis and Paraty, south of the
state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These animals were captured from freediving in different parts of this region. Blood
samples of approximately 5 ml from venous sinus cervical2 of each individual were collected. The samples were
placed in tubes containing sodium heparin (5,000 IU/ml) and kept refrigerated until analysis. Also biological data
collection procedures were performed, such as curved carapace length (CCC), weight, corporal condition,5 and
fibropapillomatosis presence. All animals were considered robust with no apparent fibropapillomas. For comparison,
we have used the hematology studies of green turtles from the Brazilian coast.3,4,6 The CCC was 39.7 ± 7.8 (29–60)
cm and weight 6.9 ± 3.7 (2.5–21.4) kg. The hematological values were obtained: RBC 0.49 ± 0.13 (0.25–0.9) 106/µl;
PCV 30.41 ± 04.06 (22–49)%; hemoglobin 10.13 ± 1.98 (7.3–16.3) g/dl; MCV fl 667.34 ± 155.07 (386–1,088.8);
MCHC 34.2 ± 29.1 (33–37) g/dl; WBC/dl 3,782.12 ± 2,452.13 (1,000–9,000); monocytes/µl 258.31 ± 668.75 (0–
3,360); lymphocytes/µl 98.61 ± 222.79 (0–960); heterophils/µl 647.32 ± 1,125.52 (24–4160); eosinophils/µl 199.23
± 539.31 (0–2,560); basophils/µl 13.71 ± 65.25 (0–320). The RBC and hematocrit values were higher than those
found in other studies.3,4,6 Hemoglobin concentration was the highest as those described for the state of São Paulo3,6
and near to that found by other authors in the northeastern Brazilian region3. However, WBC values were near and
lower when compared to animals of São Paulo state.3,6 It is known that the hematological values may be influenced
by many biological factors such as age, size, sex, body condition, diet, season and habitat.1 The study area is
characterized as a feeding and juvenile green turtles development area; therefore, the results may be indicating a
local hematological standard.
* Presenting author
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46th IAAAM Conference, Shedd Aquarium, April 6-10, 2015