Notes on the hematology of free-living Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines: Chelidae) in polluted rivers of Southeastern Brazil

Autor: Bruno O. Ferronato, Alexander Genoy-Puerto, Carlos I. Piña, Franco L. Souza, Luciano M. Verdade, Eliana R. Matushima
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Zdroj: Zoologia (Curitiba), Vol 26, Iss 4, Pp 795-798 (2009)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1984-4670
1984-4689
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-46702009000400027
Popis: Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) is the freshwater turtle with the widest geographical distribution in South America. During 2006, physical examination and hematological evaluation were performed on free-ranging turtles from two polluted rivers, the Piracicaba River (n = 51) and its tributary Piracicamirim (n = 42), in southeastern Brazil. Red blood cell and thrombocyte counts, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels differed in turtles from the two water courses. Although free-ranging turtles showed ectoparasites and boat propeler lesions, animals apparently had no signs of clinical disease. In spite of our results, further monitoring of the demography and health status of Phrynops geoffroanus in anthropogenically altered environments is recommended.
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