Morphologic and cytochemical characteristics of Chinese striped-necked [corrected] turtle (Ocadia sinensis) blood cells and their hematologic and plasma biochemical reference values.

Hematologic analyses are useful for the monitoring of animal health and diseases and for the differentiation of physiologic processes for clinicians and conservationists. In order to establish hematology reference values for the Chinese striped-necked [corrected] turtle (Ocadia sinensis) and to produce an accurate baseline of clinical laboratory data for O. sinensis with regard to sex and season, 50 (24 males and 26 females) adult captive individuals of O. sinensis were studied. Blood samples from the jugular veins of the turtles were collected in January, April, June, and November. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance for significant (P < 0.05) variation by sex, season, and the interaction between sex and season. Significant sex differences were observed for the parameters of packed cell volume, eosinophil count, heterophils and monocytes ratio, total protein, albumin, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase. Marked seasonal variation was noted in all parameters except mean cell hemoglobin, monocytes and heterophils ratio, and creatinine. Differences between sexes and seasons were primarily associated with the reproductive cycle. Heterophils had a strong positive reaction and eosinophils had a moderate positive reaction to benzidine peroxidase stain. Thrombocytes had a positive reaction to periodic acid-Schiff stain. Surface morphologic study using scanning electron microscopy of blood cells showed that white blood cells of O. sinensis had no distinctive surface characteristics.