Hematology of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)

Hemograms on blood obtained from 10 clinically normal West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) were studied. The red cells were large and in lower number than in most terrestrial species. The manatee does not have a neutrophil as is present in most species, but it has a heterophil whose granules stain pink with the Wright-Giemsa stain. The eosinophil has uniform red-staining granules that make its differentiation from heterophils difficult. Both large and small lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils are present. The total number of white blood cells was comparable to that of common domestic species as were the platelet numbers. No reticulocytes were found.