Studies on carbohydrates in reptiles

Summary Sugar tolerance tests were performed on Uromastyx at different temperatures ranging from 15–47° C. Temperature has an effect on the height of sugar tolerance curves, on the time needed for reaching maximum hyperglycemia, and on the rate of disposal of excess glucose from the blood stream.The magnitude of the rise of blood glucose is proportional to the dose of glucose given to the animal. The maximum glucose in blood is reached after a constant time, regardless of the amount of glucose added.In hepatomised animals, the reaction towards injected glucose is of a short duration. Further the extrahepatic tissue shares in the removal of excess glucose from the blood.In depancreatised animals sugar tolerance curves are of diabetic type.     

Studies on carbohydrates in reptiles

Summary Glucose was found to be present only in plasma of Uromastyx with an average value of 54.6 mg/100 cc. Values for blood sugar were slightly higher in females than in males.The maximum values for glucose in plasma were found to occur in July while a period of low blood glucose prevails during winter. During the period of sexual activity the values found for blood glucose are comparatively low, due to material needed for the formation of eggs and sperms.A decrease in blood glucose was observed in fasting animals. This decrease depends on the period of fasting.A relation between water content and glucose percentage of blood plasma, coelomic and pericardial fluids was obtained.     

Nutrition and husbandry conditions of Palearctic tortoises (Testudo spp.) in captivity

Mediterranean and Russian tortoises (Testudo spp.) are popular companion animals (pets), despite ongoing controversy concerning privately keeping reptiles. The arguments used during these controversial discussions have often been based on outdated facts. Therefore, a survey was developed to evaluate the current population structure, husbandry conditions, diet regime, and health status of Testudo species in captivity. More than 75% of the 1075 respondents housed their tortoises in an outdoor enclosure containing a greenhouse or cold frame, which is considered the most species-appropriate way of husbandry. Of the respondents, 67.7% fed their tortoises with the optimum diet of more than 80% grasses and weeds during the summer vegetation period. Only 8.2% of respondents owned a tortoise with a diagnosed disease. According to the results, the likelihood of tortoises developing pyramidal growth syndrome, which can be used as an indicator of the quality of tortoise husbandry, was high in tortoises kept in a terrarium and/or fed a diet of less than 80% grasses and weeds in summer. This likelihood varied among species, with a higher incidence in Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni).     

Chemical and fatty acid composition of male mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) meat

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of age on chemical and fatty acid composition of the male mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) meat. The male mouflons included in the study originated from the North Adriatic island Rab, Croatia. Three age groups were included (young, sub-adult, adult). An effect of age on chemical composition was not found. However, higher percentage of total fat, dry matter and ash was determined in the meat of young mouflons. Predominating saturated fatty acids in mouflon meat were myristic, palmitic and stearic acids. Age significantly (p < 0.05) affected only the percentage of palmitic acid being the highest in the meat of young mouflons. Percentage of the predominant monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, did not change significantly with age. A higher (p < 0.05) percentage of the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid, was found in the meat of sub-adult mouflons. The meat of the young mouflons had a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of conjugated linoleic acid. The meat of the sub-adult and adult mouflons was found to have a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of total saturated fatty acids. A lower (p < 0.05) ratio of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids was found in the meat of young than in the meat of sub-adult mouflons. The ratio of n-6 and n-3 was lower (p < 0.05) in the adult than in the sub-adult mouflons. Higher (p < 0.05) atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices were found in the young rather than in the adult mouflons. Low fat content (<1 %) and favourable ratios of polyunsaturated, saturated, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids make the mouflon meat a good choice for human diet.     

Isolation and partial characterization of IgG-like immunoglobulins from frog (Rana ridibunda Pall.) and tortoise (Testudo graeca Pall.) serum

1. By successive application of gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography IgG fraction have been isolated from frog (Rana ridibunda Pall.) and tortoise (Testudo graeca Pall.) sera. 2. The homogeneity of the fractions has been confirmed and a similar electrophoretic mobility has been revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. 3. In rabbits polyclonal antibodies giving specific reaction with the corresponding IgG immunoglobulin have been raised.