engleski

DIVERSE MORPHOLOGY OF CHELONIAN BLOOD CELLS

The morphology of blood cells, particularly erythrocytes and leukocytes, is different among the same order of reptiles and even within same species. Understanding of this diversity is crucial for laboratory evaluation of blood films in reptiles contributing to appropriate diagnosis and therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate diversity of blood cells in some species of turtles. Archived turtles' blood films stained with Romanowsky stain were evaluated. There were four different species of turtles: Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), Western Caspian turtle (Mauremys rivulata), Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) and Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and three blood films from the different animals of similar age were used for each species. Differential blood count and evaluation of blood cells morphology were made and the cells were subjectively compared due to the shape, lenght, nucleus and colourness. In Loggerhead sea turtle, reticulocytes contained basophilic stippling and in erythrocytes there were round, dot-like intracytoplasmic inclusions. Chinese softshell turtle had the biggest basophiles with clearly visible granules and two types of thrombocytes, round and elongated. Lymphocytes and azurophils were similar in all examined species. The biggest diversity in blood cells morphology between species was noted in eosinophils and the most specific and different from the others were eosinophils of Loggerhead sea turtle. Knowing blood cells morphological diversity in different species of turtles and specificity for each species is necessary for accurate performance of differential blood count and therefore valid estimation of animal's health condition.

blood cells, morphology, turtles, reptiles, hematology

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