Haematology and serum biochemical parameters in free-ranging African side neck turtle (<em>Pelusios sinuatus</em>) in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The haematology and serum biochemical parameters in free-ranging African side neck turtle (Pelusios sinuatus) in Ibadan, Nigeria was carried out with the view of establishing baseline blood health indices of this species and generating data which could be useful in the comparative physiology of turtles. A total of sixty free ranging turtles comprising juveniles and adults of both sexes were used for the study. The mean values for the RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH and WBC counts observed in male juvenile were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the females. Nevertheless, in adult turtles, the mean values for the RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH and WBC counts observed in females were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the males. Similarly, in juvenile turtles, the absolute heterophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts in females were relatively higher (P < 0.05) than that of male while in adult turtles there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) in these parameters between the males and females. There were no significant difference (P < 0.05) in the values for the total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and blood urea nitrogen in the males and females of both the juvenile and adult turtles. The outcome of this study presents baseline data on the haematology and serum biochemical parameters in free-ranging African side neck turtle (Pelusios sinuatus) in Ibadan, Nigeria, which could also serve as a template for the comparative physiology of fresh and sea turtles.