Sixty seven serum samples collected from 43 European brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Croatia were tested for 31 serum chemistry parameters. Results were grouped and compared by bears origin (method of capture), sex, age, mass, and season sampled. Greatest differences were found between captive and free-living bears, and minor differences were found when sex, age, mass, or season of sampling were compared. Creatine kinase was significantly different among three categories of bears with the highest mean value of 924 lU/I in snare captured freeliving bears compared to 67.8 lU/I in captive ones. Results of these tests provide reference values for European brown bears.

Effects of various intrinsic and extrinsic factors on 17 hematologic values from 56 brown bears (Ursus arctos) sampled in Croatia from 1981 to 2005 were evaluated. Differences between female and male bears were detected for number of erythrocytes, sedimentation rate after 30 min, and number of leukocytes and segmented neutrophils. Significant differences between free-living vs. captive and snared vs. not snared bears were detected for the same three parameters: leukocytes, segmented neutrophils, and eosinophils. It was concluded that the physical exertion of bears snared by leg, rather than their free-living status, influenced differences of results among these groups. The obtained mean values are useful reference values for the species.

Changes in coagulation parameters were studied in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis canis (n = 30), and haemostasis was evaluated and compared to values obtained from healthy dogs (n = 29). To date, there have not been any studies examining the dynamics of thrombin-antithrombin complex formation in cases of canine babesiosis. Coagulation parameters evaluated before (day 0) and on days 1, 2, and 3 after treatment with imidocarb (6 mg/kg inj. s.c.) included the determination of platelet counts, the formation of thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and antithrombin III (AT III) activity. TAT complexes were significantly elevated in animals with babesiosis on days 0 and 2 (mean 49.7 and 87.7 µg/L vs. control, 7.2 µg/L). AT III activity was significantly decreased at all time-points examined. There were no differences in PT. On days 2 and 3 the APTT was significantly shortened in the infected dogs when compared to control animals (means of 21.3 and 19.2 s vs. control, 30.0 s). Our analysis demonstrated that infected dogs had significant thrombocytopenia during the course of the study (mean day 0 -29 × 10 9 /L, day 1 -48 × 10 9 /L, day 2 -47 × 10 9 /L and day 3 -87 × 10 9 /L, vs. control -259 × 10 9 /L). These data suggest that babesiosis in dogs compromises primary and secondary haemostasis and that induction of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs in canine babesiosis.

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