Characterizing the Hematologic and Plasma Chemistry Profiles of Captive Chinese Water Dragons, Physignathus oncincinus

Twenty-six (one to six years of age) Chinese water dragons, Physignathus cocincinus, from two different captive populations, Massachusetts (MA) and Mississippi (MS), were selected for this study. The lizards were given a thorough examination, and a blood sample was collected for a complete blood count (CBC) and plasma biochemistry. Whole blood was stored in both lithium heparin and CaEDTA; Ca-EDTA was considered the superior anticoagulant based on multiple paired samples. The packed cell volume (PCV) for the water dragons was 32 – 40%. The lymphocyte was the most common cell found on the CBC. There were significant differences in the plasma uric acid (MS: 2.3; MA 6.0; p=0.001) and phosphorus (MS: 5.7, MA:7.1; p=0.04) concentrations between the two populations. Younger dragons (<2 yr of age) were more likely to have higher plasma uric acid concentrations (<2 yr: 3.4, >3 yr: 2.3, p=0.01) than dragons > 3 yr of age. There were no significant differences in the biochemistries based on the origin (wild-caught vs. captive bred) of the lizards or between genders. Overall, the dragons in this study were clinically healthy, and the reference range established from these two populations may be used as a basis for comparison in clinical cases.