Hematologic examination and total protein values of sea turtles of species Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758), in captivity, from Praia do Forte, Mata de São João - Bahia

Abstract

With the purpose in obtaining measurable parameters of hematologic examination and total protein test values of eight sea turtles of species Caretta caretta in captivity, 5mL of blood were collected from dorsal cervical sinus using heparin as anticoagulant. The results showed average amounts of erythrocytes of 275.000/µl (±28.030,59), packed cell volume of 33,12% (±2,35), hemoglobin concentration of 8,65 g/dl (±0,80), while the erythrocytic indexes were 725 fl (± 131,99) for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), 198,18 pg (± 38,66) for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and 26,10% (± 1,21) for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The leukocyte response showed an average of WBC counting of 3.656/µl (±963,04), and the average numbers relating to the leukocyte count were 59,38% (±16.27) for heterophils, 10,38% (±6,32) for eosinophils, 0,13% (±0.35) for basophils, 29,25% (±17,12) for lymphocytes and 0,88% (±2,10) for monocytes, being those absolute values of 2.156,87/µl (±703,49); 366,88/µl (±216,44); 2,50/µl (±7,07); 1.110,94/µl (±783,61) e 19,06/µl (± 42,34), respectively. The average amount of trombocytes found equaled 10.968,13/µl (±3.109,19) and the total protein finding of an average 6,5 g/dl (±0,83). Of all variables analyzed, the erythrocytes count, the mean corpuscular volume, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and all leukocyte counts presented different values for the relevant species when compared to published literature.