Affiliation:
1. Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Steubenstrasse 4, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany
2. Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hanover, Germany
3. Reptile Rescue Center Munich e.V., Kaulbachstrasse 37, 80539 Munich, Germany
Abstract
Some trace elements are essential for the health of vertebrates, but little is known about their function, the amounts required, and the factors influencing their metabolism in tortoises. The aim of this study was therefore to measure trace elements (chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn)) in heparinized blood plasma of Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) (n = 520) from March to September 2022 using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and to establish specific reference intervals. Additionally, the influence of sex, season, and region of sample collection on the measured values were evaluated. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) sex-specific differences were found for Cu, Mg, and Mn; seasonal differences were found for Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Se; and the region in which the tortoises were kept significantly impacted Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mo, and Se levels. The results show that all of these factors should be consider when establishing and interpreting blood trace element levels in tortoises.
Funder
Ingo und Waltraud Pauler Fond der Arbeitsgemeinschft für Amphibien- und Reptilienkrankheiten der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde
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