Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles

The <i>Caretta caretta</i> is the only known sea turtle that nests along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it is threatened by human activities. The aim of this work was to analy...

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Main Authors: Rosaria Disclafani, Paola Galluzzo, Giorgia Schirò, Irene Vazzana, Chiara Lomonaco, Vincenzo Monteverde, Salvatore Dara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/571
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author Rosaria Disclafani
Paola Galluzzo
Giorgia Schirò
Irene Vazzana
Chiara Lomonaco
Vincenzo Monteverde
Salvatore Dara
author_facet Rosaria Disclafani
Paola Galluzzo
Giorgia Schirò
Irene Vazzana
Chiara Lomonaco
Vincenzo Monteverde
Salvatore Dara
author_sort Rosaria Disclafani
collection DOAJ
description The <i>Caretta caretta</i> is the only known sea turtle that nests along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it is threatened by human activities. The aim of this work was to analyze biochemical parameters in different age groups of <i>C. caretta</i> subjects recovered at the Centro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio e Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Sicily. Biometric parameters were recorded for each subject. Peripheral blood was collected and centrifuged, and 18 biochemical parameters were analyzed. Glucose and total proteins showed lower values in juvenile turtles than in sub-adult and adult subjects. Since blood biochemical parameters can be influenced by several factors (age, sex, infectious disease, or trauma), we evaluated differences in the values of some parameters between the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons of adult turtles whose sex and cause of stranding could be determined. Despite the small number of subjects, it would seem that, in adult turtles, the values of ALP, γ-GT, Fe, and LDH are higher during the reproductive season. These biochemical variations showed important differences in the parameters, underlining their importance in assessing the health status of turtles and better understanding their physiology during different stages of their lives.
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spelling doaj-art-1ad46d8e1bcb4ef6a2b91efc0fddf04d2025-08-20T02:04:43ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-11-01111157110.3390/vetsci11110571Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea TurtlesRosaria Disclafani0Paola Galluzzo1Giorgia Schirò2Irene Vazzana3Chiara Lomonaco4Vincenzo Monteverde5Salvatore Dara6Centro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio, Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyThe <i>Caretta caretta</i> is the only known sea turtle that nests along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it is threatened by human activities. The aim of this work was to analyze biochemical parameters in different age groups of <i>C. caretta</i> subjects recovered at the Centro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio e Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Sicily. Biometric parameters were recorded for each subject. Peripheral blood was collected and centrifuged, and 18 biochemical parameters were analyzed. Glucose and total proteins showed lower values in juvenile turtles than in sub-adult and adult subjects. Since blood biochemical parameters can be influenced by several factors (age, sex, infectious disease, or trauma), we evaluated differences in the values of some parameters between the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons of adult turtles whose sex and cause of stranding could be determined. Despite the small number of subjects, it would seem that, in adult turtles, the values of ALP, γ-GT, Fe, and LDH are higher during the reproductive season. These biochemical variations showed important differences in the parameters, underlining their importance in assessing the health status of turtles and better understanding their physiology during different stages of their lives.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/571<i>Caretta caretta</i>biochemical parametersMediterranean Seasea turtlesloggerhead sea turtle
spellingShingle Rosaria Disclafani
Paola Galluzzo
Giorgia Schirò
Irene Vazzana
Chiara Lomonaco
Vincenzo Monteverde
Salvatore Dara
Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles
Veterinary Sciences
<i>Caretta caretta</i>
biochemical parameters
Mediterranean Sea
sea turtles
loggerhead sea turtle
title Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles
title_full Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles
title_fullStr Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles
title_short Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in <i>Caretta caretta</i> Sea Turtles
title_sort evaluation of biochemical parameters in i caretta caretta i sea turtles
topic <i>Caretta caretta</i>
biochemical parameters
Mediterranean Sea
sea turtles
loggerhead sea turtle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/571
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