| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 臨床動物醫學研究所 === 104 === Malaysian gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii ) belongs to Class Reptilia, Order Crocodilia and Family Gavialidae, which is a freshwater, mound-nesting crocodilian with a distinctively long, narrow snout. This species is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List and also under CITES AppendixⅠ. They are threatened by continuing loss and fragmentation of habitat and their conservation work has got more and more attention internationally. However, there is no substantial research on reference interval of hematology and biochemistry in Malaysian gharial to assist their conservation work or evaluate individual health, the aim of this study is to establish reference interval of hematology and plasma biochemistry in Malaysian gharial under captivity in Taiwan.
The subjects of this research were 29 adult females, 10 adult males and 16 yearlings from a commercial farm in Chiayi and Taipei Zoo. Blood samples were collected from ventral tail vein using needle tube of 16G or 18G intravascular catheter to avoid hemolysis or contamination of lymphoid fluid. Complete blood count and leukocyte differential count were obtained using manual method. Plasma biochemical analysis included alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities and concentrations of total protein, glucose, uric acid, urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine, triglyceride, cholesterol, calcium and phosphate were performed using VITROS® 350. Sodium, potassium and chloride were evaluated by Cobas® b 121. Concentration of albumin was determined by electrophoresis.
Comparisons between sexes as well as adults and yearlings were estimated using Mann- Whitney test with significance set at P<0.05. The results demonstrated that sex and age affected hematologic and biochemical values in non-breeding season. Male had significant higher value in red blood cell parameters, total protein, albumin and uric acid while female had higher triglyceride, sodium and chloride. There were many differences between adult and yearling. The result of comparing bromcresol green (BCG) dye-binding method with protein electrophoresis in determining albumin in this species indicated that albumin could not be accurately determined by BCG method and only moderate correlation between two methods.
The reference interval of hematology, plasma biochemistry and protein electrophoresis in Malaysian gharial was established and could be applied to other individuals in non-breeding season. Because there were many differences between adult and yearling, it is better to establish reference interval of adult and yearling separately in
next step. And considering the effect of breeding physiology, it should compare the differences between breeding and non-breeding season in the future.
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