REFERENCE VALUES FOR HAEMATO-BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF CASPIAN POND TURTLE (MAUREMYS CASPICA) IN THE CASPIAN SEA

Abstract

The Caspian pond turtle, Mauremys caspica, is an important reptile species in the southern basin of Caspian Sea. Haematological indices and serum biochemistry can be utilised as valuable screening tools for the health status of many domestic and wild animals. In this study, the blood parameters were measured in male and female turtles to establish physiologic reference ranges of selected haematological and serum biochemical parameters in M. caspica. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 60 Caspian pond turtles (30 males and 30 females) from the southern basin of Caspian Sea. Significant differences were observed in some haematological indices (i.e. haemoglobin and haematocrit) and serum biochemical indices (i.e. alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase) between the male and female turtles (P<0.05). However, further research is necessary to elucidate the influence of size, sex, season, and habitat variations on haemato-biochemical parameters in the Caspian pond turtle.