Clinical value of blood glucose concentrations in a large population of unhealthy client-owned chelonians.

OBJECTIVE

To describe variations in blood glucose concentrations depending on their clinical diagnosis in a large cohort of chelonians.

METHODS

Data on species, sex, habitat, blood glucose, appetite, organ category, and disease type data were extracted and analyzed using commercial statistical software. Generalized linear models were built to evaluate the association between blood glucose concentrations and organ system or disease type while accounting for other predictor variables.

RESULTS

After exclusion of healthy chelonians and chelonians missing glucose measurements, 967 chelonians were included in this study. The most represented chelonians were red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans; n = 413), followed by African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata; 102). After multivariable adjustment, compared to chelonians with trauma, chelonians with infectious disease, inflammatory disease, metabolic disease, neoplastic disease, and vascular disease had glucose concentrations that were 33.3% to 48.2% lower. Compared to chelonians with urinary tract involvement, chelonians with different organ systems affected had blood glucose concentrations 16.4% to 61.9% lower. There were no associations between gout, dystocia, or urolithiasis and glucose concentrations. Chelonians with hyperuricemia had blood glucose concentrations 47.8% higher than those without hyperuricemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood glucose concentrations may vary in chelonian patients depending on the type of disease and the organ affected, among other factors. Certain conditions result in increased or decreased glucose concentrations.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When testing blood glucose in unhealthy chelonians, results should be interpreted considering species and disease context.