Blood chemical parameters in free-living white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum

Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, total protein, albumin, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase were determined in free-living white rhinoceroses Ceratotherium simum (n = 20). Single serum cortisol (n = 20), oestradiol-17 Beta (n = 14) and progesterone (n = 14) concentrations are also presented. Low serum sodium (129.6 +/- 4.2 mmol/l) chloride (94.2 +/- 3.05 mmol/l) and albumin (26.1 +/- 3.71 mmol/l) as well as high globulin (alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma) concentrations were outstanding features.