DETERMINATION OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES FOR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF GALAPAGOS ( COMPLEX) AND ALDABRA () TORTOISES.

The first objective of this study was to establish clinically relevant techniques for cardiac echocardiography in nonanesthetized Galapagos ( complex) and Aldabra () tortoises. A second objective was to establish guidelines for determining normal echocardiographic anatomy and function in both species. Select echocardiographic reference values were defined for 17 healthy Galapagos tortoises and 27 healthy Aldabra tortoises.

Method Comparison of β-Hydroxybutyrate Using a Point-of-Care Device and Dry Chemistry Analyzer in Three Sea Turtle Species.

The ketone β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) serves as an energy source when bodily energy stores are low. Concentrations of this blood analyte are often determined by spectrophotometric quantitative assays with a dry chemistry analyzer; however, rapid assessment with point-of-care devices have the potential to improve assessment of animals in the field or in clinical settings. We measured BHB concentrations in whole blood samples from 54 leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), 27 loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and 14 green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles in Florida, US with a point-of-care device and validated its use with corresponding plasma samples and dry chemistry analyzer as the gold standard.