Blood Collection in Turtles and Tortoises

Successful venipuncture can be a challenge in turtles and tortoises, however hematology and biochemistry results serve as an important part of the minimum database in chelonians just as they do for all veterinary patients. Use this video, or text with still images, to review the equipment needed and sample handling recommendations as well as the potential complications and proper approach to the jugular vein, brachial vein, subcarapacial vessel, and dorsal coccygeal sinus in the chelonian . . .


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References


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4b. Frye FL. Hematology as applied to clinical reptile medicine. In: Frye FL (ed). Reptile Care, Vol. 1. Neptune City: TFH Publishing; 1992:209–279

5. Glassman AR, Gamblin KM, Zachariah TT. Comparison of biochemistry values from plasma and lymph in Krefft’s river turtles (Emydura macquarii krefftii). J Herp Med Surg 2022;32(1):63-72. doi:  5818/JHMS-D-20-00017.

6. Gottdenker NL, Jacobson ER. Effect of venipuncture sites on hematologic and clinical biochemical values in desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). Am J Vet Res. 1995;56(1):19-21. PMID: 7695143.

7. Heatley JJ. Box turtle (Terrapene) hematology. J Exotic Pet Med 2010;19(2):160-164. doi: 10.1053/j.jepm.2010.06.002.

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11. Klein K, Gartlan B, Doden G, et al. Comparing the effects of lithium heparin and dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on hematologic values in Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2021;51(4):999-1006. doi: 10.1638/2020-0109. PMID: 33480581.

12. López-Olvera JR, Montané J, Marco I, et al. Effect of venipuncture site on hematologic and serum biochemical parameters in marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata). J Wildl Dis. 2003;39(4):830-836. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-39.4.830. PMID: 14733278.

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14. Martínez-Silvestre A, Perpiñan D, Marco I, Lavin S. Venipuncture technique of the occipital venous sinus in freshwater aquatic turtles. J Herp Med Surg. 2002;12 (4):31–32. doi: https://doi.org/10.5818/1529-9651.12.4.31

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17. Mitchell MA. Managing the reptile patient in the veterinary hospital: Establishing a standard of care model for nontraditional species. J Exotic Pet Med 2010;19(1):56-72.
doi: 1053/j.jepm.2010.01.015.

18. Muro J, Cuenca R, Pastor J, et al. Effects of lithium heparin and tripotassium EDTA on hematologic values of Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni). J Zoo Wildl Med. 1998;29(1):40-44.

19. Perpiñán D. Chelonian haematology. Proc International Conference on Avian, Herpetological and Exotic Mammal Medicine 2015:78-79

20. Perpiñan D. Chelonian haematology 1. Collection and handling of samples. In Practice 2017;39(5):194-202. Available at
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316721772_Chelonian_haematology_1_Collection_and_handling_of_samples. Accessed April 15, 2022.

21. Perpiñán D, Armstrong DL, Dórea F. Effect of anticoagulant and venipuncture site on hematology and serum chemistries of the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera). J Herp Med Surg. 2010;20(2-3):74-78.
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22. Proença LM. Blood sampling and intravenous access in exotic species. Proc International Conference on Avian, Herpetological and Exotic Mammal Medicine. 2015:122-126

23. Stewart K, Mitchell MA, Norton T, Krecek RC. Measuring the level of agreement in hematologic and biochemical values between blood sampling sites in leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2012;43(4):719-25.
doi: 10.1638/2011-0045R.1. PMID: 23272336.

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25. Troiano JC, Althause R, Scaglione MC et al. Osmotic fragility and size of erythrocytes in Caiman latirostris and Caiman crocodylus jacare (Crocodylua-Alligatoridae) under captive conditions. Comparative Haematology International 1998;8:50–52.
doi:  10.1007/BF02628105.

 

Further reading

Berry KH, Demmon A, Bailey T. Protocols for drawing blood from the brachial plexus of desert tortoises. USGS Website. July 2005. Available at https://www.werc.usgs.gov/fileHandler.ashx?File=/…/Protocolbloodnasalrev0705.pdf. Accessed September 27, 2016.

de la Navarre BJS. Current diagnostic techniques and therapeutic techniques in reptiles and amphibians. Proc International Conference on Avian Herpetological and Exotic Mammal Medicine 2015:74

Heatley JJ, Russell KE. Hematolgy. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ (eds). Mader’s Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. 2019:857-865.

Heatley JJ, Russell KE. Clinical chemistry. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ (eds). Mader’s Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. 2019:899-909.

Mader DR. Clinical pathology in reptiles: What do these results mean? Proc International Conference on Avian, Herpetological and Exotic Mammal Medicine 2015: 59-60.

Mans C. Venipuncture techniques in chelonian species. Lab Anim (NY). 2008;37(7):303-4. doi: 10.1038/laban0708-303. PMID: 18568008. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5288592_Venipuncture_techniques_in_chelonian_species. Accessed on March 29, 2022.

Pendl H. Avian and reptilian haematology. Proc International Conference on Avian, Herpetological and Exotic Mammal Medicine 2015: 177-178

Quesada RJ, Aitken-Palmer C, Conley K, Heard DJ. Accidental submeningeal injection of propofol in gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). Vet Rec 2010;167(13):494-495. doi: 10.1136/vr.c4746. PMID: 20871085.

Sykes JM 4th, Klaphake E. Reptile hematology. Clin Lab Med. 2015;35(3):661-680. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2015.05.014. PMID: 26297412.

To cite this page:

Pollock CG. Blood collection in turtles and tortoises. LafeberVet website. April 29, 2022. Available at  https://lafeber.com/vet/blood-collection-in-chelonians/