Symmetrical Dimethylarginine as a Diagnostic Parameter in Hermann's Tortoises (Testudo hermanni)

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in habitational conditions, kidney disease is relatively common in tortoises. OBJECTIVES: Purpose of this study was the establishment of Symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA) reference values for clinically healthy Hermann's Tortoises. ANIMALS: Clinically healthy Hermann's Tortoises (n = 131) were included in the period from October 2017 to September 2019. METHODS: Creatinine and other biomarkers were tested at IDEXX Laboratories, Germany using residual blood samples from Hermann's tortoises. SDMA was measured with the IDEXX test and verified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry at IDEXX Laboratories, USA. RESULTS: SDMA values ranged from 1 to 21 μg/dl (n = 131) for the IDEXX SDMA Test and SDMA values ranged from 1 to 17 μg/dl (n = 82) for LC-MS. For the comparison of the two measuring systems, the following results were obtained R(2) = 0.75 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: SDMA can be measured in Hermann's Tortoises and the reference values range in clinically healthy animals is comparable to that of dogs and cats.