Venous blood gases and electrolyte values of captive red foot tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)

TL;DR

This study establishes blood gas and electrolyte reference ranges in red-foot tortoises and finds gender-related differences.

Contribution

The paper provides temperature-corrected and uncorrected venous blood gas reference intervals for Chelonoidis carbonarius.

Findings

Oxygen saturation and sodium levels were significantly higher in male tortoises.

Temperature correction showed a larger pH difference when body temperature was lower than environmental temperature.

Blood gas parameters were measured and compared between male and female red-foot tortoises.

Abstract

Blood gas analysis reflects the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. This test provides important information, since the relationship between these gases has a direct impact on the acid-basic balance in the body. Given the significance of blood gas analysis in Brazilian reptiles, this study set out to establish temperature-corrected and uncorrected reference intervals for venous blood gas measurements in Chelonoidis carbonarius, and to compare values between females and males. In this study, 19 animals were used, 8 males and 11 females. Blood samples were collected from the dorsal coccygeal vein, and the analyses were performed immediately after blood sample collection. The following parameters were measured: pH, PO2, HCO3-, TCO2, BEecf, Na, K, ICa, and Glu, and were compared between females and males. Additionally, pH, pCO2, and pO2 values were compared with and without temperature correction. Oxygen saturation and Na levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in males. Furthermore, it was possible to infer that the lower the body temperature relative to the environmental temperature, the larger the difference in pH following temperature correction.

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