Minimally-invasive monitoring of renal health in reptiles

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Currently, up to 36% of evaluated reptile species are considered threatened with extinction worldwide. The most commonly cited factors for herpetofauna decline are climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species such as feral cats, pollution, pet trade and infectious diseases. The Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service of 2019 has emphasized the need to define better indicators to monitor how free-ranging species are affected by climate change. While many studies are underway to evaluate the impact of climate change on mammalian species, fewer studies are conducted about reptiles. Ectotherm species rely heavily on their environment: excessive temperature or dehydration affect their metabolism, immunity and renal function. Typically, chronic dehydration and excessive temperature will cause renal disease and gout in reptiles. Thus, reptiles may be impacted by global warming more drastically than mammals. It is anticipated that global temperature should increase by 2 to 4.8C by 2100. Distribution shifts of certain reptile species have already been observed. However, this coping strategy is not always possible, for instance for reptiles living on islands, such as endemic Madagascar chameleons threatened with extinction. Therefore, assessing the renal health of reptile populations would be important to evaluate when translocation programs are warranted. In addition, thousands of reptiles are kept as pets in Canada. North America is the biggest consumer market for companion reptiles worldwide, with a 22% increase in the number of animals legally exchanged since 2002. Reptiles are also kept in captivity in head-start programs with the ultimate goal to release them into the wild. In this context, it is important to monitor individual reptile health status. However, no accurate and reliable blood marker of renal disease have been identified to date in reptiles. The objective of this program is to identify sensitive and specific blood markers to assess renal function in reptiles in a non-invasive manner. Our specific objectives are: 1) to establish reference intervals in reptiles for newly developed renal biomarkers commercially available for dogs and humans, 2) to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these biomarkers in an experimental model of renal disease in reptiles, and 3) to evaluate biomarkers deemed sensitive and specific for renal health assessment in a free-ranging population of reptiles in Canada. This research program will involve 3 master students, 2 residents enrolled in a 3-year residency program accredited by the American College of Zoological Medicine (3-year post-graduate program enrolling veterinarians at least 2 years after obtention of their veterinary doctorate) and undergraduate veterinary students learning about research through a credited externship during the 5th year of the curriculum leading to the doctorate in veterinary medicine.