Blood reference intervals for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from routine diagnostic samples

Abstract

Summary Objective: The goal of this study was to establish reference intervals for blood parameters in rabbits based on data from routine diagnostic samples. Materials and methods: Data sets from 1679–2039 values for clinical chemistry and 937–1559 values for hematological parameters were evaluated using the statistical program Reference Limit Estimator 20151017. Results: The following reference intervals were calculated for hematology: erythrocytes 4.37–7.43 × 1012 cells/l; hematocrit 0.28–0.48 l/l; hemoglobin 89.63–153.82 g/l; leucocytes 2.71–12.23 × 109 cells/l; neutrophils 0.87–7.82 × 109 cells/l; lymphocytes 0.36–6.58 × 109 cells/l; monocytes 0.08–1.71 × 109 cells/l; eosi nophils 0.07–0.19 × 109 cells/l; basophils 0.06–1.1 × 109 cells/l; thrombocytes 225.45–905.3 × 109 cells/l. Calculated intervals for clinical chemistries were: alkaline phosphatase 9.05–94.68 U/l; aspartataminotransferase 3.75–32.44 U/l; creatine kinase 1.63–559.53 U/l; γ-glutamyltransferase 2.5–14.46 U/l; glutamatdehydrogenase 0.68–14.78 U/l; fructosamin 248.08–501.43 µmol/l; bile acid 0.76–19.63 μmol/l; total protein 48.66–73.64 g/l; urea 2.63–10.28 mmol/l; creatinine 51.38–154.35 µmol/l; calcium 3.02–4.3 mmol/l; magnesium 0.66–1.51 mmol/l; phosphorus 0.54–2.18 mmol/l; sodium 132.61– 154.0 mmol/l and potassium 3.52–6.04 mmol/l. Conclusion and clinical relevance: The calculation of intervals based on a large number of routine diagnostic samples allows the establishment of labora tory specific reference intervals without the use of experimental animals.

Inflammatory Correlated Response in Two Lines of Rabbit Selected Divergently for Litter Size Environmental Variability

“…Delivery is a stressful event to does which could affect to biochemical parameters concentrations. However, the levels of bilirubin, cholesterol, ALP, GCT, BA, ALB, and BUN in our lines were within the wide range of values reported in rabbits by [18,27] (3.4-8.5 µmol/L, 0.3-3.0 µmol/L, 9.1-94.6 IU/L, 2.5-14.5 IU/L, 0.7-19.6 µmol/L, 25-50 g/L, and 6.14-8.38, respectively). When we compared both lines, the concentrations of bilirubin and cholesterol were higher in the high line.…”

“…We found that there was no difference between lines, except for WBC and the percentage of basophils. The WBC values obtained were within the normal range for rabbits (2.71 − 12.23 × 10 9 /L), reported by [18]. Total leucocyte counts are involved in the immunity reaction and defence of the organism [19,20].…”

Clinical assessment of acid-base balance in Netherland Dwarf rabbit

“…Results of haematological values (Table 2) were within the range of normal values defined for these parameters by previous studies in other breeds (Hewitt et al, 1989; Suckow and Douglas, 1996;Benson and Paul-Murphy, 1999;Flecknell, 2002;Melillo, 2007;Jenkins, 2008;Putwain, 2010;Özkan et al, 2012;Ardiaca et al, 2013;Bonvehi et al, 2014;Varga, 2014;Moore et al, 2015;Leineweber et al, 2018) and similar to values obtained by Šimek et al (2017) in Netherland Dwarf rabbits females (35-39%). Melillo (2007) and Varga (2014) consider that the normal range of haematocrit in pet rabbit has values from 30 to 40% and those values higher than 45% may indicate dehydration due to gastrointestinal stasis, trichobezoar or malocclusion.…”

“…The acid-base parameters (pH, TCO 2 , pCO 2 , HCO 3 , BEecf, AnGap) and electrolytes analysed in our study remained within physiological ranges given by several authors for other breeds of rabbit (Suckow and Douglas, 1996;Flecknell, 2002;Ardiaca et al, 2013;Williams et al, 2014;Leineweber et al, 2018), except data reported by Suckow and Douglas (1996) for pCO 2 values. Our study has shown pCO 2 values higher than their study.…”

“…However, our results were not statistically significant differences. Blood urea nitrogen concentrations ( Table 2) did not differ from the previously reported reference values in other rabbit breeds (Hewitt et al, 1989;Suckow and Douglas, 1996;Jenkins, 2008;Özkan et al, 2012;Ardiaca et al, 2013;Bonvehi et al, 2014;Leineweber et al, 2018). In those studies, range of urea blood values is very wide because physiological factors, such as dietary protein concentrations, liver function or natural circadian rhythms, can affect its values (Melillo, 2007).…”