Lizard Blood Values

Baseline haematology and biochemistry values of 'normals' must be established per patient and per laboratory. It is very useful to establish normals for individual patients at the time of regular health checks before the animals are presented for sickness. Values may vary depending on season, breeding condition and diet. The following values have been taken from various sources and reflect the laboratory methods as well as the individual species. Caution is advised when using these values for the interpretation of your own patients' blood results.

Normal haematology & plasma biochemistry values in the green iguana (Iguana iguana)

Ten wild caught iguanas were blood sampled as part of a health assessment prior to introduction to an existing group. The iguanas were manually restrained by holding the forelimbs laterally against their chest and the hindlimbs against the tail. Blood was collected from the ventral tail vein and placed in lithium heparin. A fresh blood smear was made at the time of collection. Urea, creatinine and LDH were considered poor diagnostic parameters.

Haemotology

Haematology	Values
Total RBC count (x 10^12/l)	1.0-1.9
PCV (l/l)	0.25-0.38
Hb (g/dl)	6.0-10.0
MCV (fl)	165-305
MCH (pg)	48-78
MCHC (g/dl)	20-38
Total WBC count (x 10^9/l)	3-10
Heterophils (x 10^9/l)	0.35-5.2
Azurophils (x 10^9/l)	0.0-1.7
Lymphocytes (x 10^9/l)	0.5-5.5
Eosinophils (x 10^9/l)	0.0-0.3
Monocytes (x 10^9/l)	0.0-0.1
Basophils (x 10^9/l)	0.0-0.5

Biochemistry

Biochemistry	Values
Total protein (g/l)	50-78
Albumin (g/l)	21-28
Globulin (g/l)	25-43
Uric acid (mmol/l)	70-140
ALP (iu/l)	50-290
ALT (iu/l)	5-68
AST (iu/l)	5-52
GGT (iu/l)	0-3
Cholesterol (mmol/l)	2.7-8.6
Triglycerides (mmol/l)	0.6-7.8
Glucose (mmol/l)	9.4-16.0
Calcium (mmol/l)	2.2-3.5
Phosphorus (mmol/l)	1.5-3.0

References

• Divers, S. (1996). Normal haematology & plasma biochemistry values in the green iguana. British Veterinary Zoological Society, Summer newsletter 1996:5-6.

Haematology and biochemistry of selected lizards (American units)

	Prehensile-tailed skink (Corucia sp.)	Green iguana (Iguana iguana)	Iguanid lizard (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)
Haematology
PCV (%)	35 (24-60)	45-52
RBC(10^12/l)	1.5 (0.8-1.4)	3.5-5.8
Hb (g/dl)	9.6 (7.4-11.6)	7.1
MCV (fl)	263 (152-600)	78-149
MCH (pg)	69 (42-111)	12-20
MCHC (g/dl)	28 (17-56)	14-16
WBC (x 10^9/l)	12.4 (3.9-22.4)	9 (4.3-15.0)
Heterophils (%)	37 (16-58)	5-55
Azurophils (%)	22 (8-42)
Lymphocytes (%)	22 (2-40)	35-55
Eosinophils (%)	4(0-18)	2
Monocytes (%)	0.6 (0-6)	<4
Basophils (%)	15 (4-26)	rare
Biochemistry
ALT (iu/l)		35-90	13 (3-38)
AP (iu/l)		30-95	14 (4-30)
AST (iu/l)	19 (<4-76)	20-65	179 (34-400)
Bilirubin total (mg/dl)		0.4-1.0	0.2 (0.1-0.5)
BUN (mg/dl)		6-15	2 (1-5)
Calcium (mg/dl)	13 (11-21)	9-13	11 (8-30)
Chloride (mEq/l)	124 (123-129)	102-125	120 (12-155)
Cholesterol (mg/dl)	144 (11-252)	210 (110-250)	243 (100-399)
Creatine kinase (iu/l)	210 (27-940)	90-300	4500 (700-14.240)
Creatinine (mg/dl)		0.1-0.7	0.5 (0.2-1.8)
GGT (iu/l)
Glucose (mg/dl)	100 (70-122)	197-280	355 (255-575)
LDH (iu/l)		150-400	789 (145-2915)
Magnesium (mEq/l)		0.9
Phosphorus (mg/dl)	3.7 (2.8-6.7)	3.5-6.0	5.5 (2.8-10.0)
Potassium (mEq/l)	3.6 (1.4-5.0)	3.6-5.2	2.6 (0.4-7.0)
Protein total (g/dl)	6.5 (5-8)	2.8-5.0	3.8 (2.4-5.4)
Albumin (g/dl)		1.0-1.6	2.3 (1.6-3.0)
Globulin (g/l)			1.5 (0.8-2.4)
a:g ratio			1.7 (1.0-2.3)
Sodium (mEq/l)	158 (145-167)	140-158	164 (137-245)
Thyroxine (ìg/dl)		1.5-4.6
Uric acid (mg/dl)	1.6 (<0.3-3.1)	2.8-6.0	5.6 (2.4-13.3)

References

• Wright, K.M. & Skeba, S. (1992). Hematology and plasma chemistries of captive prehensile-tailed skinks (Corucia zebrata). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 23:429-432.
• Carpenter, J.W., Mashima, T.Y. & Rupiper, D.J. (1996). Exotic Animal Formulary. Greystone Publications, Kansas. Pp. 74-76.
• Kopplin, R.P., Tarr, R.S. & Iverson, C.N.M. (1983). Serum profile of the iguanid lizard (Dipsosaurus dorsalis). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 14:30-32.

Haematology and biochemistry of chameleons

• 38 samples from 35 individuals – 8 institutions
• ISIS values
• International units

Haematology	Values		Biochemistry
RBC (x10^12)
WBC (x10^9)
PCV (l/l)
Haemaglobin (g/l)
MCV (fl)
MCH (pg)
MCHC (g/dl)
Heterophils (x 10^9)
Eosinophils (x 10^9)
Lymphocytes (x 10^9)
Monocytes (x 10^9)
Basophils (x 10^9)
Azurophils (x 10^9)