Plasma protein electrophoresis in green iguanas (Iguana iguana) suffering from hepatic, renal and inflammatory skin diseases

Abstract

The goals of this study were to evaluate electrophoretograms in green iguanas suffering from hepatic, renal and inflammatory skin diseases. Plasma samples were obtained from 14 green iguana patients. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination, evaluation of biochemical and haematological profiles or histopathological examination. Agarose gel electrophoresis was performed using an automated HYDRASYS system. A decrease in the albumin/globulin ratio was observed in 11 out of 14 patients (three out of four patients with liver failure, one out of one patient with chronic renal insufficiency and suspected hepatopathy, two out of two patients with chronic interstitial nephritis, four out of five patients with chronic renal insufficiency and one out of two patients with dermatitis). The alpha globulin fraction was elevated in 1 out of 14 patients (patient with dermatitis). The fraction of beta globulins was increased in 8 out of 14 patients (two out of four patients with liver diseases, four out of eight patients with various forms of renal failure and two out of two patients with inflammatory skin diseases). Increased gamma globulin levels were observed in 4 out of 14 patients (one out of four patients with impaired function of the liver, two out of eight patients with renal diseases and one out of two patients with dermatitis). Changes in the electrophoretograms of green iguanas are not disease-specific, but in conjunction with other biochemical blood tests the electrophoresis of plasma proteins may be a useful indicator in the diagnosis of metabolic and infectious diseases and in the monitoring of disease progress.