Hematological and Biochemical Reference Intervals for Euphrates Softshell Turtle (Rafetus euphraticus)

Euphrates softshell turtle (Rafetus euphraticus) is one of the endangered species, and understanding its different biological aspects may be useful in preserving it. Therefore, the present study was carried out to establish selected hematological and blood biochemical reference intervals for the softshell turtle. The results of hematological and biochemical data are as follows: Erythrocytes: 0.48 × 106 cells mm−3, leukocytes: 3.77 × 103 cells mm−3, hemoglobin: 10.67 g dl−1, hematocrit: 31.41%, mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes: 673.27 fl, mean corpuscular hemoglobin: 228.93 pg, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration: 34.00%, and total alternative complement: 59.5 U ml−1, lysozyme: 9.3 U min−1, AST: 75.9 U L−1, ALT: 13.5 U L−1, LDH: 418.9 U L−1, GGT: 15.5 U L−1, ALP: 103.9 U L−1, and glucose: 53.80 mg dL−1, creatinine: 1.54 mg dL−1, cholesterol: 114.27 mg dL−1, triglyceride: 115.73 mg dL−1, total protein: 4.91 g dL−1, albumin: 2.27 g dL−1, globulins: 2.64 g dL−1, urea: 38.17 mg dL−1, phosphorus: 5.36 mg dL−1. There was no significant difference between male and female turtles in most biochemical and hematological parameters. The present results showed that some of the biochemical parameters measured in the serum of R.euphraticus were similar to the blood biochemical parameters in the freshwater and marine turtles. However, there was a significant difference in some parameters. The results of this study could enhance our knowledge of the Euphrates softshell turtle (R. euphraticus) biology.