Blood chemistry values on loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta): fluctuations in comparison of clinical conditions and sample techniques

Blood samples in Caretta caretta have been rarely explored and it’s quite unusual to investigate and determine serum biochemical values correlating with the health of these animals. Nevertheless knowing blood parameters could result precious in rescue activities. We tried to discover possible existing relationships between clinical conditions and blood values. We have compared health conditions and the answer about physical diseases in a group of 80 Caretta caretta, recovered in the WWF Rescue Center of Lampedusa, between June and September 2008. We clinically monitored all the patients (5 males, 3 females and 72 subadults), and we drew blood samples by jugular and sometimes by occipital sinus. Blood sampling and serum handling were performed in double way, in the light and in the dark. We determined the following serum parameters: total proteins, glucose, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, AST, ALT, CPK, ALP, amylase, cholesterol, triglycerids, total biliribin, sodium, potassium, calcium. 48 sea turtles were in good conditions, whereas 32 showed lesions caused by fishery interactions: flippers ischemic necrosis, hooks or lines into the digestive channel, and they all underwent an operation. The analytic results (mean±SD) were statistically analysed through ANOVA multivariation and Pearson test. We noted sample techniques influence in a significant statistic way (p<0.01) the bilirubin results: this pigment resulted impossible to dose in samples performed in the light, but it was of 0.15±0.06 mg/dl in dark samples, probably correlated to the high bilirubin photosensibility. We also registered significant statistic differences (p<0.01) in glucose and cholesterol, linked to the weight: in over 20 kg turtles, these two parameters were proportionately higher in comparison with lower weight turtles. The comparison between healthy and sick turtles shows significant statistic differences for glucose (p<0.05) and uric acid (p<0.05), both higher in turtles needing an operation. The AST, ALT, CPK differences were lower between the two groups of turtles, anyway they were higher in physically stressed turtles, especially in the group of lower weight turtles. These last parameters could be considered indicative of poor muscular trophism; their evaluation could result very precious and useful for prognosis. The significancy of our results confirms the importance of the analytical determinations in order to better understand turtles conditions and to improve medical practices.