Biochemical and Hematologic Reference Intervals for the Endangered Island Fox (Urocyon Littoralis)

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Hematologic and serum biochemical data collected must be interpreted by comparison with normal reference intervals generated from healthy animals, within a similar population, because many blood parameters are influenced by diet, environment, and stress. Species-specific reference intervals for the endangered island fox (Urocyon littoralis) are not available. We reviewed hematology and serum biochemistry panels from 280 island foxes sampled from 1999-2008 and established normal reference intervals from clinically healthy foxes using a nonparametric approach. Blood parameters were analyzed for differences in age, sex, island of origin, and captivity status. Alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase activities, as well as calcium and phosphorus concentrations, were significantly higher in juveniles than in adults, but total protein and globulin concentration was lower for juveniles than for adults. Lymphocyte and eosinophil counts, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, in foxes from the northern Channel islands of California, USA (Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel) were higher when compared with foxes from Santa Catalina Island to the south. Higher lymphocyte and eosinophil numbers in the northern island foxes may be associated with increased levels of parasitism on the northern islands. Differences in BUN concentration in both free-ranging and captive foxes may reflect dietary differences among islands. Although aggressive conservation programs have been enacted, island foxes are still susceptible to infectious and neoplastic diseases and, potentially, to toxins. Island fox species-specific reference intervals will enable managers and veterinarians to better care for sick and injured foxes and will contribute to future population health monitoring.

Central vestibular syndrome in a red fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) with presumptive right caudal cerebral artery ischemic infarct and prevalent midbrain involvement

“…Unfortunately, normal reference values for red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are not available in veterinary medical literature. To the author's knowledge hemato-biochemical reference intervals for wild foxes are available only for the island fox (urocyon littoralis) (Inoue et al, 2012). In addition hematologic and serum chemistry mean values are available for the species Vulpes velox (Mainka, 1988).…”

“…http://www.openveterinaryjournal.com M. Ricciardi et al Open Veterinary Journal, (2017), Vol. 7(2): 197-202 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 199 (Inoue et al, 2012). ( ¶) Mean values for haematology and serum biochemistry from a population of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) (Mainka, 1988 A MRI of the brain was repeated using the same sequence protocol.…”

Image-based red blood cell counter for multiple species of wild and domestic animals

“…The manual method is used for the RBC assessment in hemograms of wild animals in many recent research projects (Goldstein et al, 2011;Inoue et al, 2012;Miller et al, 2013;Norberg et al, 2011;Rostal et al, 2012;Sanches et al, 2013;Santos et al, 2013), and it is often used as the gold standard. In Fig.…”

“…Studies on wild animals often use manual methods with the hemocytomer (Almosny and Santos, 2001). Other examples of RBC counts for different species include Chital deer (Chapple et al, 1991), Brown mink (Weiss et al, 1994), Coatis (Silva et al, 1999), Pampas deer (Uhart et al, 2003), Pallas' cats (Brown et al, 2005), Capybaras (Madella et al, 2006) (Inoue et al, 2012), Moose (Rostal et al, 2012), Norwegian reindeer (Miller et al, 2013), Giant anteaters (Sanches et al, 2013) Black howler monkey (Santos et al, 2013). It is also possible to find studies on humans and domestic animals, that use the hemocitometer, e.g.…”

Perfil sanguíneo y análisis de la seroprevalencia de Leptospira interrogans en zorra gris (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) y coyote (Canis latrans) en dos zonas suburbanas de la ciudad de Querétaro

“…El análisis celular y bioquímico de la sangre es una herramienta comúnmente utilizada para evaluar aspectos de la salud de fauna silvestre, permitiendo así estimar la condición fisiológica, además de ser un indicador indirecto del estado nutricional, calidad del hábitat y estado general de estrés de un individuo (Kerr, 2002). Para interpretar tales datos adecuadamente, se deben comparar con los intervalos de referencia de la especie en cuestión, y de preferencia en una población similar, ya que muchos parámetros bioquímicos son influenciados por aspectos intrínsecos de la especie, así como por factores extrínsecos ambientales (Seal et al, 1975, Gates & Goering, 1976, Smith & Rongstad, 1980, McCue & O'Farrel, 1987, Del Giudice et al, 1991, Inoue et al, 2012. Existen microorganismos patógenos de importancia zoonótica que han sido reportados en fauna silvestre, entre ellos Leptospira interrogans (Bharti et al, 2003;Jones et al, 2008).…”