Diagnostic Tests and Definitions

Diagnostic Tests and Definitions

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Reptiles can be very sick before we as owners see symptoms, so its important to know all you possibly can about the species you have and any early indicators that can be a red flag for possible problems. Education and learning the proper husbandry can not be stressed enough to help avoid the most common causes of reptile illness and death. Reptiles hide their illness, it's their means of survival in the wild not to show weakness. For example, testing has shown that as much as 75% of the kidneys in a reptile may not be functioning before they show any visual symptoms of renal failure.

PARASITE AND WORMS
One of the most common problems in all captive breed reptiles, they can be treated if caught early with little side effects and also one of the less expensive or invasive test to identify them.

Test: Fecal examination by collecting a fresh fecal sample, preferable not less than 4 hours old. You can refrigerate a sample, but the fresher it is, the more accurate the results will be. Your Veterinarian can run several test from a fecal sample:
1. Fecal direct
2. Fecal float
3. Gram strain (most infections are caused by gram negative pathogens in reptiles)
4. Centrifuging and examining sediment
There are also some advanced tests that have been developed recently that can detect certain virus in living reptiles such as adenovirus and coronavirus. Also, there are other tests that can detect markers of paramyxo and various boid viruses. These may not be available at local labs, but if your medical professional is not aware of them, contact us through the site and we can direct you to those that will do them.

BLOOD CHEMISTRY:
Blood draws and tests are a valuable tool to diagnose potential problems. Volume to take should be carefully examined prior to the draw based upon the species. A blood draw should not be more than 10% (a safer range is around 7%, and most diagnostic testing can be run on this amount) of the blood volume weight of the animal. With blood chemistry, you also need to be aware that some results can be affected by season, gravid or stress and may not be indicative of an actual imbalance in the animal without a complete exam of the animal and other results.

ALB - Albumin: This is a protein that is produced by the liver, reduced levels can indicate liver disease, kidney disease, intestinal illness or parasites.
ALT - Alanine Aminotransferase: An enzyme that increases with liver disease or injury
ALKP - Alkaline Phosphatase: An enzyme present in several organs ( liver, gall bladder, ducts) and bone, elevated levels can indicate liver disease or medication reactions.
AMYL - Amylase: An enzyme produced in the pancreas to aid in digestion, high levels can indicate liver disease or pancreatic disorders
BUN - Blood Urea Nitrogen: Produced in the liver and kidneys, high levels can indicate kidney disease, low levels can indicate Liver disease. Dehydration can also affect these levels and not be a problem if the animal is properly re-hydrated.
Ca - Calcium: High levels can indicate tumors, kidney or thyroid problems.
CHOL - Cholesterol: Elevated levels of cholesterol can be liver, kidney, vascular, cardiac or many other disorders related.
CREA - Creatinine: A by-product of muscle/tissue metabolism and excreted by the kidneys, this can indicate kidney dysfunction, obstructions or when an animal is dehydrated.
GLU - Blood Glucose: Low levels can be related to liver disease, various infections and also tumors. High levels can be an indicator of diabetes.
PHOS - Phosphorus: High levels can be an indicator of kidney disease.
BIL or TBIL - Bilirubin: A byproduct of the breakdown of hemoglobin and bile. An elevated level can signal Liver disease of obstruction of the bile ducts. This level can increase from parasites and worms blocking the bile ducts.
TP - Total Protein: This reading can be effected by dehydration or a sign of kidney, liver or intestinal disease.

HEMATOLOGY:
HCT- Hematocrit - total of red blood cells present in the blood, a low count indicates anemia
CBC - Complete Blood Count: Measure of the Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet. Counts can indicate anemia, low resistance to infection, existing infection, stress, inflammation, leukemia or internal bleeding.
NA+ C+ and Cl+ - Sodium, Potassium and Chloride: These are electrolytes, range of these can indicate cardiac problems, and also tell the results that diarrhrea. vomiting or dehydration are having or can have on the animal.

RADIOGRAPHY:
1. X-rays can be a guide for detecting bone injuries, defects, impactions, egg binding, and poor bone density
2. A special machine called a bone densitometer measures the bone mineral content and density of specific bone and provides a T-score.
3. Ultrasound allows the medical professional to look closer at the internal system of an animal and is more effective for spotting egg binding, obstructions or growths internally.
These are just a few of the more common test available that can be used to detect problems in reptiles and an explanation of their use and guide for treatment. One thing to note, in blood chemistry you can get some high readings in some test if the animals is stressed during the blood draw. Discuss any out of range readings with your Veterinarian and what it might mean.

Article by Cheri Smith