Changes in the hematology and blood metabolites of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) under intensive rearing system in humid tropical conditions

Abstract

Guinea pigs in intensive production generates an imperative necessity of physio-pathological bases for diagnosing their state of welfare, health, and production; those which are available for this species are referred to as laboratory or companion animal. The aim of this research is to determine changes in hematological and blood metabolites profiles in relation to age of Cavia porcellus reared in intensive system at 660 masl in humid tropic. For this purpose, forty 15-120 days old guinea pig in healthy conditions from the inti x Peru lines born in the humid tropic were used and the evaluation ages were 15-21, 22-35, 36-60 and 61-120 days. Blood samples were obtained by puncture of the cephalic vein; profiles of erythrocytes (RBC), total leucocytes (WBC), lymphocytes, granulocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH and MCHC indices were determined. In serum, profiles of glucose, total protein (TP), albumin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, total bilirubin (TB), and direct bilirubin (DB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Hemoglobin profile, MCH and MCHC indices increased as age increased (p < 0,05) and the erythrocytes, leucocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin profiles and MCV, MCH, MCHC indices showed the narrower interval ranges in the 15-35and 61-120-days old guinea pigs. Profiles of TP, DB and AST showed increase with age (p < 0,05) and the DB, AST, ALT, and TC profiles showed the narrower interval range at 36-120 days old. The hematological and blood metabolites profiles of guinea pigs raised in intensive system in humid tropical conditions show significant changes with production age. .