Hematologic and serum chemistry values of captive Canadian lynx

We present baseline values for 12 hematologic and 17 serum chemistry parameters collected from 22 captive lynx (Felis lynx canadensis) in December 1992, at Ronan, Montana (USA). There were no significant differences in hematologic parameters between yearlings and adults or between sexes. Lynx originally captured in the wild had significantly higher mean (+/- SE) counts of neutrophils (7.7 +/- 0.37 x 10(3) versus 7.2 +/- 0.35 x 10(3)) and lower counts of lymphocytes (1.1 +/- 0.05 x 10(3) versus 1.6 +/- 0.08 x 10(3)) compared to lynx born and raised in captivity. Yearling lynx had significantly higher values for alkaline phosphatase than adults (51.0 +/- 6.0 IU/l versus 17.5 +/- 0.8 IU/l.