Influence of the Reproductive and Non-Reproductive Season on Hepatic Fat Accumulation in Trachemys sp.: Correlations of Computed Tomography, Histopathology, Biochemistry and Coelioscopy.

The hepatic energy storage of twenty-four freshwater turtles was assessed using computed tomography, 3D Slicer software, serum biochemistry and histopathological analysis of liver biopsies to investigate the influence of seasonality and sex. In the evaluated animal group, seasonality did not influence hepatic fat and glycogen stores; however, significant sex-related differences were observed. Female terrapins exhibited enlarged subcarapacial fat bodies, lower hepatic Hounsfield unit (HU) values and a greater degree of hepatocyte ballooning. Furthermore, females maintained higher serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, and calcium, particularly during the summer season. The values obtained in this study may be used as clinical reference values for adult male and female Trachemys spp.