Electrophoresis is a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of shifts in plasma protein fractions, which can be associated with a variety of diseases. This method is not often used in reptile medicine because there are only a few studies available and no reference intervals have been published for most species. The goal of this study was to establish reference intervals for plasma capillary zone electrophoresis in Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) under consideration of variations by season and sex. 251 samples from healthy adult Hermann's tortoises were collected from May 2016 to October 2017. Total protein was measured by the biuret method and albumin was measured twice by bromocresol green dye-binding method (BCG) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in order to compare the detection methods. The globulin fractions were analyzed by CZE. Seasonal variations were significant for total protein (P = 0.0055), albumin (P = 0.0322) and α-globulins (P = 0.0007). The variations between male and female Hermann's tortoises were highly significant for albumin (P < 0.0001), α-globulins (P < 0.0001) and β-globulins (P < 0.0001). The differences between the measurements of albumin by CZE and BCG also differed depending on the sex and season. This study demonstrates that it is important to include the variations by sex and season when establishing reference intervals and interpreting results. Furthermore, it confirms the importance of using electrophoresis for the correct determination of albumin in tortoises.
Keywords: Albumin; total protein; α-globulins; β-globulins.