Morphologic and cytochemical characteristics of blood cells of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta)

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2007-04, Vol.82 (2), p.158-165
• Main Authors: Casal, A.B., Orós, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Animals; Atlantic Islands; basophils; Blood; blood cell counts; Blood cells; Blood Cells - cytology; Blood Cells - ultrastructure; blood composition; Caretta caretta; Classification; Conservation of Natural Resources; Cytochemistry; Cytoplasm; differential staining; eosinophils; erythrocytes; Fluorides; Haematology; hematologic tests; heterophils; Histocytochemistry - veterinary; histology; juveniles; Lymphocytes; monocytes; normal values; Rehabilitation; Sea turtle; sea turtles; species differences; Standard deviation; Studies; thrombocytes; Turtles - blood; Veterinary medicine; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2006.07.017

A morphologic classification based on the cytochemical characteristics of blood cells of 35 juvenile loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta) is described. Cytochemical stains included benzidine peroxidase, chloroacetate esterase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (with and without sodium fluoride), acid phosphatase (with and without tartaric acid), Sudan black B, periodic acid-Schiff, and toluidine blue. The morphologic characteristics of erythrocytes were similar to those reported in green turtles. Six types of white blood cells were identified: heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and thrombocytes. Except for the basophils, the rest of the white blood cells from loggerhead turtles had different cytochemical characteristics compared to blood cells from other sea turtle species. The leukocyte differential count was different from that reported for other sea turtle species. Heterophils were the most numerous leukocytes from these loggerhead turtles, followed by lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils. This paper provides a morphologic classification of blood cells of loggerhead sea turtles that is useful for veterinary surgeons involved in sea turtle conservation.