HEMATOLOGY, PLASMA BIOCHEMISTRY, AND ANTIBODIES TO SELECT VIRUSES IN WILD-CAUGHT EASTERN MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKES (SISTRURUS CATENATUS CATENATUS) FROM ILLINOIS

• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-42.1.107
• Publication Date: 2013-10-01T03:12:48Z
• Authors: Matthew C. Allender; Mark A. Mitchell; Christopher A. Ph...; Karen Gruszynski; Val R. Beasley
• Keywords: Creatine kinase

During the 2004 field season, blood was collected from Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Carlyle Lake (Carlyle, Illinois, USA) and Allerton Park (Monticello, populations to derive baseline complete count plasma biochemistry data assess prevalence of antibodies West Nile virus (WNV) ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV). Massasaugas were located for sampling through visual encounter surveys. Body weight, snout-vent length, total protein, globulins, sodium, potassium normally distributed among survey population. Aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, albumin, calcium, uric acid, white cell count, heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils non-normally within these animals. Female snakes had significantly shorter tail lengths; lower glucose, packed volumes, absolute azurophil counts; higher calcium phosphorus concentrations than did males. None tested (n=21) seropositive WNV, whereas all (n=20) OPMV.