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Trace Element Levels in the Serum of Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni)

Received: 7 May 2021    Accepted: 21 May 2021    Published: 3 June 2021
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Abstract

Up to now, blood reference values for trace elements (zinc, copper, iodine, iron, selenium and manganese) in the serum of Testudo spp. have not been established. Most studies concerning trace element levels in blood of reptile’s regard environmental pollution esp. concerning selenium. In the present study levels of iron, copper, iodine, zinc, selenium and manganese were evaluated in 130 blood samples of clinically healthy Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni), originating from pet tortoises in Germany (n= 64), extensively kept captive-hatched tortoises from Turkey (n=20), and from free-ranging specimens of two locations in France (n=46). The French habitats differ in the nature of the soils, one being low in lime and another high in lime. The levels of trace elements in the blood were compared between the different groups and to the levels of trace elements in the respective feed rations resp. food plants. The aim was to check the correlation between origin, husbandry, feeding and sex on the levels of trace elements in the blood. Blood levels of trace elements, regardless of origin, gender, or diet, generally showed a wide range. Also there existed a poor correlation to contents in diet concerning iron, selenium, and manganese, but a statistically significant correlation to zinc, copper and iodine. Preliminary reference values of zinc, iodine and copper can be a useful tool to diagnose nutrient deficiencies, poisoning and deficiency symptoms in Testudo hermanni.

Published in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12
Page(s) 50-55
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

European Tortoises, Copper, Zinc, Iodine, Iron, Selenium

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Hanna Katrin Stephan, Tina Hollandt, Sabine Oefner, Sebastien Caron, Jean Marie Ballouard, et al. (2021). Trace Element Levels in the Serum of Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni). Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 9(3), 50-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12

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    ACS Style

    Hanna Katrin Stephan; Tina Hollandt; Sabine Oefner; Sebastien Caron; Jean Marie Ballouard, et al. Trace Element Levels in the Serum of Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni). Anim. Vet. Sci. 2021, 9(3), 50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12

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    AMA Style

    Hanna Katrin Stephan, Tina Hollandt, Sabine Oefner, Sebastien Caron, Jean Marie Ballouard, et al. Trace Element Levels in the Serum of Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni). Anim Vet Sci. 2021;9(3):50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12,
      author = {Hanna Katrin Stephan and Tina Hollandt and Sabine Oefner and Sebastien Caron and Jean Marie Ballouard and Sven Reese and Yuri Zablotski and Petra Koelle},
      title = {Trace Element Levels in the Serum of Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni)},
      journal = {Animal and Veterinary Sciences},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {50-55},
      doi = {10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.avs.20210903.12},
      abstract = {Up to now, blood reference values for trace elements (zinc, copper, iodine, iron, selenium and manganese) in the serum of Testudo spp. have not been established. Most studies concerning trace element levels in blood of reptile’s regard environmental pollution esp. concerning selenium. In the present study levels of iron, copper, iodine, zinc, selenium and manganese were evaluated in 130 blood samples of clinically healthy Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni), originating from pet tortoises in Germany (n= 64), extensively kept captive-hatched tortoises from Turkey (n=20), and from free-ranging specimens of two locations in France (n=46). The French habitats differ in the nature of the soils, one being low in lime and another high in lime. The levels of trace elements in the blood were compared between the different groups and to the levels of trace elements in the respective feed rations resp. food plants. The aim was to check the correlation between origin, husbandry, feeding and sex on the levels of trace elements in the blood. Blood levels of trace elements, regardless of origin, gender, or diet, generally showed a wide range. Also there existed a poor correlation to contents in diet concerning iron, selenium, and manganese, but a statistically significant correlation to zinc, copper and iodine. Preliminary reference values of zinc, iodine and copper can be a useful tool to diagnose nutrient deficiencies, poisoning and deficiency symptoms in Testudo hermanni.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Trace Element Levels in the Serum of Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni)
    AU  - Hanna Katrin Stephan
    AU  - Tina Hollandt
    AU  - Sabine Oefner
    AU  - Sebastien Caron
    AU  - Jean Marie Ballouard
    AU  - Sven Reese
    AU  - Yuri Zablotski
    AU  - Petra Koelle
    Y1  - 2021/06/03
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12
    T2  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    JF  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    JO  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    SP  - 50
    EP  - 55
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5850
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20210903.12
    AB  - Up to now, blood reference values for trace elements (zinc, copper, iodine, iron, selenium and manganese) in the serum of Testudo spp. have not been established. Most studies concerning trace element levels in blood of reptile’s regard environmental pollution esp. concerning selenium. In the present study levels of iron, copper, iodine, zinc, selenium and manganese were evaluated in 130 blood samples of clinically healthy Hermann´s Tortoises (Testudo hermanni), originating from pet tortoises in Germany (n= 64), extensively kept captive-hatched tortoises from Turkey (n=20), and from free-ranging specimens of two locations in France (n=46). The French habitats differ in the nature of the soils, one being low in lime and another high in lime. The levels of trace elements in the blood were compared between the different groups and to the levels of trace elements in the respective feed rations resp. food plants. The aim was to check the correlation between origin, husbandry, feeding and sex on the levels of trace elements in the blood. Blood levels of trace elements, regardless of origin, gender, or diet, generally showed a wide range. Also there existed a poor correlation to contents in diet concerning iron, selenium, and manganese, but a statistically significant correlation to zinc, copper and iodine. Preliminary reference values of zinc, iodine and copper can be a useful tool to diagnose nutrient deficiencies, poisoning and deficiency symptoms in Testudo hermanni.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

  • Veterinary Care, Reptile Rescue Center, Munich, Germany

  • Veterinary Care, Reptile Rescue Center, Munich, Germany

  • Station D'observation Et De Protection Des Tortues Et De Leurs Milieux, CRCC, Gonfaron, France

  • Station D'observation Et De Protection Des Tortues Et De Leurs Milieux, CRCC, Gonfaron, France

  • Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

  • Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

  • Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

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