| Abstrakt: |
Eastern collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) are growing in popularity in the exotic pet trade and breeding industry in the United States and around the world; however, clinical biochemistry reference data to support interpretation of health and disease for these species remains lacking. This study evaluated ninety-two apparently healthy collared lizards (Crotaphytus spp.), including eighty-seven eastern collared lizards (Crotaphtyus collaris) and five Dickerson's collared lizards (Crotaphytus dickersonae). Blood samples were collected from the ventral coccygeal tail vein and tested with the Abaxis VetScan VS2 biochemical analyzer. While lizard weight and SVL (snout to vent length) were normally distributed, most biochemical analytes, except albumin and total protein were not. Many analytes were affected, albeit slightly, by the following variables assessed: age, SVL, body condition score, gravidity, sex, oviposition, apparently healthy, color/locality; however, with the exception of calcium, phosphorous, and albumin for gravid or immediately post oviposition females, other values remained within the generated reference interval. Limitations in this study were the limited range of bile acid capability of the VetScan VSA ABAXIS Analyzer unable to successfully read the majority of the values below a BA of 35 µmol/L and analyzer limitations for efficient evaluation of albumin and globulin. Methods used in previous studies on BA may be needed to properly evaluate BA levels in the Crotaphytus genus. When compared to biochemistry values of the green iguana, plumed basilisk, Allen Cays rock iguana, and Ricord's iguana in the same infraorder Iguania from the western hemisphere, collared lizards shared similar ranges in some analytes, but several differences were noted that can be significant when used for determination of clinical diseases or abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
