Abstract
Clinical pathology and nutritional parameters are useful in evaluating and monitoring threatened and endangered wildlife populations, but reference ranges for most snake species are lacking. From 2001 to 2005, health assessments were performed on 58 eastern indigo snakes (EIS) (Drymarchon couperi) captured in the wild in southeastern Georgia, United States. Health and nutritional assessments performed included hematology, serum biochemistry, fat-soluble vitamins, heavy metals, pesticide contaminants, parasitology, and surveys of other pathogens. Significant differences in total solids, packed cell volume, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, albumin:globulin ratio, amylase, triglycerides, and bile acids between males and females were observed. Additionally, there was a significant difference between liver and kidney concentrations for vitamins A and E. As previously noted in captive EIS, total Ca was elevated in comparison to concentrations reported in other snake species. Parasitism was a common finding in sampled EIS, but the overall health status of this free-ranging population appeared good. A winter-time dermatitis was found in most snakes, which resolved in the summer months. This study represents the first health and nutritional assessment of free-ranging EIS, and provides needed data to guide monitoring and conservation efforts.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1000-1012 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2016 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Clinical pathology
- Drymarchon couperi
- Eastern indigo snake
- Georgia
- Health assessment
- Wildlife health
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
Health and nutritional assessment of free-ranging eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) in Georgia, United States. / Knafo, S. Emmanuelle; Norton, Terry M.; Mitchell, Mark; Stevenson, Dirk J.; Hyslop, Natalie; Poppenga, Robert H; Oliva, Marcie; Chen, Tai; Cray, Carolyn; Gibbs, Samantha E J; Durden, Lance; Stedman, Nancy; Divers, Stephen; Dierenfeld, Ellen.
In: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, Vol. 47, No. 4, 01.12.2016, p. 1000-1012.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Health and nutritional assessment of free-ranging eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) in Georgia, United States
AU - Knafo, S. Emmanuelle
AU - Norton, Terry M.
AU - Mitchell, Mark
AU - Stevenson, Dirk J.
AU - Hyslop, Natalie
AU - Poppenga, Robert H
AU - Oliva, Marcie
AU - Chen, Tai
AU - Cray, Carolyn
AU - Gibbs, Samantha E J
AU - Durden, Lance
AU - Stedman, Nancy
AU - Divers, Stephen
AU - Dierenfeld, Ellen
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Clinical pathology and nutritional parameters are useful in evaluating and monitoring threatened and endangered wildlife populations, but reference ranges for most snake species are lacking. From 2001 to 2005, health assessments were performed on 58 eastern indigo snakes (EIS) (Drymarchon couperi) captured in the wild in southeastern Georgia, United States. Health and nutritional assessments performed included hematology, serum biochemistry, fat-soluble vitamins, heavy metals, pesticide contaminants, parasitology, and surveys of other pathogens. Significant differences in total solids, packed cell volume, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, albumin:globulin ratio, amylase, triglycerides, and bile acids between males and females were observed. Additionally, there was a significant difference between liver and kidney concentrations for vitamins A and E. As previously noted in captive EIS, total Ca was elevated in comparison to concentrations reported in other snake species. Parasitism was a common finding in sampled EIS, but the overall health status of this free-ranging population appeared good. A winter-time dermatitis was found in most snakes, which resolved in the summer months. This study represents the first health and nutritional assessment of free-ranging EIS, and provides needed data to guide monitoring and conservation efforts.
AB - Clinical pathology and nutritional parameters are useful in evaluating and monitoring threatened and endangered wildlife populations, but reference ranges for most snake species are lacking. From 2001 to 2005, health assessments were performed on 58 eastern indigo snakes (EIS) (Drymarchon couperi) captured in the wild in southeastern Georgia, United States. Health and nutritional assessments performed included hematology, serum biochemistry, fat-soluble vitamins, heavy metals, pesticide contaminants, parasitology, and surveys of other pathogens. Significant differences in total solids, packed cell volume, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, albumin:globulin ratio, amylase, triglycerides, and bile acids between males and females were observed. Additionally, there was a significant difference between liver and kidney concentrations for vitamins A and E. As previously noted in captive EIS, total Ca was elevated in comparison to concentrations reported in other snake species. Parasitism was a common finding in sampled EIS, but the overall health status of this free-ranging population appeared good. A winter-time dermatitis was found in most snakes, which resolved in the summer months. This study represents the first health and nutritional assessment of free-ranging EIS, and provides needed data to guide monitoring and conservation efforts.
KW - Clinical pathology
KW - Drymarchon couperi
KW - Eastern indigo snake
KW - Georgia
KW - Health assessment
KW - Wildlife health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009751170&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85009751170&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1638/2015-0127.1
DO - 10.1638/2015-0127.1
M3 - Article
C2 - 28080899
AN - SCOPUS:85009751170
VL - 47
SP - 1000
EP - 1012
JO - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
JF - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
SN - 1042-7260
IS - 4
ER -