1. Venipuncture and Clinical Pathology for Reptiles

2. Introduction Reptiles Treat n’ run? Diagnostic Tests stoic
evolved to mask illness
Treat n’ run?
Diagnostic Tests
to identify physiologic anomalies

3. Weight the reptile first

4. Blood Collection Blood volume: General rule of thumb:
5-8% of body weight reptiles
Tolerate 1% loss
General rule of thumb:
ml/100 g (reptiles)
To heparinize or not to heparinize?
Consider time to collect
LIMIT VOLUME OF HEPARIN
May affect cell staining

5. Venipuncture sites: Lizards
Ventral coccygeal/tail vein
Ventral abdominal vein
Jugular
Cardiac- euthanasia
Toe nail

6. Venipuncture sites: Snakes
Cardiac
Ventral tail vein

7. Venipuncture sites: Chelonians
Jugular
Dorsal coccygeal
Brachial
Subcarapacial

8. Subcarapacial

9. Venipuncture sites: Crocodilians
Ventral tail
Ventral abdominal
Cardiac
Supravertebral

10. Blood collection tubes: Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid
CBC and plasma chemistry
use microtainers
less likely to dilute sample
do not overfill- microclots
disadvantages:
hemolyzes RBC’s: especially tortoises
elevated potassium*
decreased calcium*

11. Blood collection tubes: Lithium heparin
CBC or plasma chemistries
less damaging to cells
centrifuge immediately
cells will consume glucose
potassium and phosphorus increase from leakage

12. Blood collection tubes: No anticoagulant
Red top tube
centrifuge to collect serum
serum may form gelatinous clot
may lose sample
continue to centrifuge, may help
more common in glass tubes
microtainer: plastic

13. Hematology Evaluating the packed cell volume Reference ranges:
20-40% (reptile)
40-55% (avian)
30-55% (mammalian; ferret 45-58%)
Buffy coat:
anecdotal used to estimate WBC (mammals)
limited samples suggest not useful
Lawton and Divers, 1999
Serum
appearance

14. Hematology: Total Red Blood Cell Count Manual techniques:
Erythrocyte Unopette system
Erythrocytes
mature cells
ellipsoid with central nucleus
cytoplasm- orange-pink
immature cells
small, round cells
basophilic cytoplasm

15. Hematology Erythrocytes abnormal shapes and sizes basophilic stippling
regeneration
basophilic stippling
anemia, iron deficiency
hypochromatosis-
iron deficiency anemia, chronic blood loss

16. Hematology Blood parasites common wild caught specimens
evaluate overall health
anemia?
regenerative

17. Hematology: Leukocytes
Circulating pool very large
reference ranges
x 103

18. Hematology: Granulocytes
Heterophils
fusiform granules
large round, acentric nucleus
function-
phagocytosis
heterophilia
inflammation, stress
seasonal
increase summer

19. Hematology: Granulocytes
Toxic heterophils
suggestive of infectious cause
indicative of severity
changes
degranulation
cell swelling
cytoplasmic vacuolization

20. Hematology : Granulocytes
Eosinophil
large, round cells
spherical granules
nucleus centrally located
function-
Parasitemia
Allergy
Inflammation
seasonal variation
increased winter

21. Hematology : Granulocytes
Basophils
small, spherical cells
basophilic meta-chromatic granules
function
histamine release

22. Hematology: Lymphocyte
Lymphocytes
small, basophilic staining
acentric nucleus
function
B cells- Ab production
T cells moderate immune function
seasonal variation
decreased in winter

23. Hematology: Monocyte Azurophil
Largest WBC
cytoplasm- blue-gray
function
granuloma formation

24. Hematology Thrombocytes central nucleus confused with lymphocytes
functions- thrombus formation, clot, wound healing
>200,000 cells/ml

25. Injections
Page 110 L, 159 S, 177 T
Demonstration

26. Fluid Support
Ideal fluid is hypotonic, non-lactated, balanced electrolyte (e.g. Normosol R)
Maintenance fluids can be calculated at 20 ml.kg.day.

27. Fluid Support
SQ, ICe, IV, IO, PO are all effective, choice of route depends on severity of illness and logistics of individual animals
Always inject between scales
Liquid enteral nutrition (e.g. Ensure, Sustacal, useful for recovery from long-term anorexia, may be mixed with vegetables or fruits for herbivores)
Critical Care Herbivore Diet by Oxbow Hay Co. or enterals from Walkabout Farms

28. Fluid Support Pharyngostomy tubes may be needed for some chelonians
Force feeding, assist feeding

29. Force feeding demo.

30. Radiology Lateral, DV, AP Horizontal beam if possible
Consider mammography or dental film
GI contrast
IVP- recently described, usefulness needs to be determined.
Page 110 L, 150 S, 175 T

31. Chelonians Whole-body Craniocaudal view

34. Venomous snake

35. Questions?