Original scientific paper

Haematological and biochemical values of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Renata Barić Rafaj ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Tončić ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Vicković ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Branko Šoštarić ; Department of Pathology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the haematological and biochemical values of clinical significance for red deer (Cervus elaphus) and provide data for farmed fawns. Blood samples were collected regularly from 34 fawns and compared with 11 adults. The mean blood haemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocyte count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), total leukocyte count (WBC) and percent of segmented neutrophils were significantly lower in fawns. Red distribution width (RDW), total platelet count (PLT), plateletcryt (PCT) and percent of eosinophils and lymphocytes were significantly higher in fawns. A vast majority of biochemical parameters were significantly lower in fawns: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total protein (tPROT), total bilirubine (tBIL) and glucose (GLU) concentration, as a aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and creatin phosphokinase (CPK) activity, while albumine concentration (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity showed a significant increase. These results demonstrate the need to use specific reference intervals for deer of different ages. The values reported here can be used as a starting point for reference range establishment for clinically healthy young farmed red deer in Croatia.

Keywords

red deer; fawn; haematology; biochemistry

Hrčak ID:

70942

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/70942

Publication date:

20.7.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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