Simple method of blood sampling from Indian freshwater turtles for genetic studies

Abstract

Biological material is now commonly employed during the characterization of species. Superficial blood vessels are the most appropriate sites in reptiles for blood sampling. In this study we describe a method of blood collection from various species of Indian freshwater turtles for genetic characterization and discuss its advantages over the previously described techniques. The method proved most suitable, easy, and less harmful. The quantity of blood samples obtained is enough for different applications such as karyotyping, cytological examinations of cell types, isozyme analysis from RBCs and plasma, DNA isolation for PCR-RAPD and mitochondrial gene specific amplification. We conclude that the femoral vein is probably the most suitable site for blood collection from Indian freshwater turtles for various experimental procedure and methodologies related to genetic characterization.