Basic haematological values in carnivores--II. The Felidae

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Hematology
• Comparative Physiology
• Wildlife Biology

Background:

• Hematological parameters are crucial for assessing the health status of animals.
• Establishing reference ranges for wild carnivorous species is essential for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.
• Limited hematological data is available for several exotic felid species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine and report basic hematological values for various wild carnivorous species.
• To provide a comparative hematological dataset for Northern lynx, puma, jaguar, lion, and cheetah.
• To establish baseline hematological data for future health assessments and research.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 34 individual animals across eight carnivorous species.
• Standard hematological techniques were employed to measure erythrocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin content, and leukocyte count.
• Mean values were calculated for species with sufficient sample sizes; individual values were reported where applicable.

Main Results:

• Mean erythrocyte counts ranged from 7.86 X 10(12)/l (cheetah) to 10.14 X 10(12)/l (lion).
• Mean hematocrit values varied from 0.37/l (jaguar) to 0.462/l (lion).
• Mean hemoglobin content ranged from 137.1 g/l (jaguar) to 163.9 g/l (puma), and mean leukocyte counts ranged from 7.73 X 10(9)/l (puma) to 15.15 X 10(9)/l (jaguar).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully established basic hematological reference values for several wild carnivorous species.
• The obtained values provide a valuable resource for veterinary clinicians and researchers working with these animals.
• Comparison with existing literature data will aid in understanding species-specific hematological variations and potential health issues.