| Abstrakt: |
Haematological assessment may contribute in monitoring the health of wild animals. However, species-specific reference intervals are required for maximal information to be gained from any haematological assessment. The purpose of this study was to assess the haematological characteristics for a population of southern brown bandicoots ( Isoodon obesulus), a small marsupial common, across southern Australia. Animals from a wild population ( n=65) were sampled between March 2004 and February 2005. Blood from these animals was assessed by microscopy, manual techniques (packed cell volume, total solids, and fibrinogen) and using an automated haematology analyser. Southern brown bandicoots were found to have similar leukocytes and erythrocytes to those previously described for other species of bandicoots, and the measured values for the haematological analytes were similar to those previously published for the species. For most analytes there were no statistically significant differences observed between males and females, and lactating and non-lactating animals. The observed values for each of the analytes in the current study may be used to aid in the detection of disease and monitoring of health in wild and captive populations of bandicoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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