HEMATOLOGIC AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY RESCUED FORMOSAN PANGOLINS (MANIS PENTADACTYLA PENTADACTYLA)

Abstract

Natural habitats of pangolins are rapidly deteriorating because of extensive farming, logging, and human construction activities. In addition, the illegal trading of pangolins substantially accelerated the decline of the pangolins' population in southeastern Asia. The maintenance of confiscated pangolins in rescue centers is currently a daunting task for veterinarians and conservation biologists. There is limited information in the literature about the reference values regarding the physiology of pangolins. The purpose of this study is to establish reliable hematologic and serum biochemical reference values for the Formosan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla). Blood samples were collected from 51 apparently healthy pangolins from a population of 117 rescued pangolins at the Taipei Zoo. Sex-related differences were observed in platelet count, alanine aminotransferase level, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and total protein level. Age-related differences were also noted; juveniles have significantly higher platelet counts and alkaline phosphatase levels than their adult counter parts. The hematologic and serum biochemical reference values for the Formosan pangolin presented in this study can be applied in the medical care of this important species during rescue attempts. It is the first systematic report of blood parameters of apparently healthy pangolins and provides a basis for future investigation of this species. The reference values reported in this study may also be applicable to other pangolin species in the genus Manis.

Hematological and serum biochemical parameters of rescued Sunda pangolins (<i>Manis javanica</i>) in Singapore

“…The MCV was significantly higher in adults than in juvenile Sunda pangolins. Similar findings have been reported in Chinese Pangolins [11, 26] and in southern white rhinos [31]. The lower MCV values in juvenile pangolins are possibly due to the gradual replacement of fetal hemoglobin by adult hemoglobin.…”

“…The success rates of pangolin rehabilitation are notoriously poor due to little available information on the species’ basic physiology or diseases, which hampers the attempts to rehabilitate animals and increase their survival rate during rehabilitation [13]. High mortality rates of pangolins in captivity are due to a variety of factors, including stress-related complications, parasitic infections, hemorrhagic gastric ulcers, respiratory infections, and poor management [10]. Recent work on Sunda pangolin husbandry including nutrition and enclosure environment has improved their survival rates in captivity [8, 9].…”

“…Hematology and serum biochemical parameters enable veterinarians to confirm tentative diagnoses, define responses to therapy, and determine the severity of diseases [19]. Hematology and serum biochemistry parameters have been reported previously in confiscated apparently clinically normal Sunda pangolins in Thailand [37] and Chinese pangolins [11, 26].…”

Fatal canine parvovirus‐2 (CPV‐2) infection in a rescued free‐ranging Taiwanese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla )

“…Haematologic and plasma biochemical testing showed a severe leucocytopenia (0.7 × 10 9 /L; reference interval [RI]: 7.53 ± 2.08 × 10 9 /L); mild hypoalbuminemia (391.21 µM; RI: 550.71 ± 78.24 µM), hypocholesterolemia (2,275.96 µM; RI: 5,598.34 ± 2,301.05 µM), hypocalcemia (2,195.72 µM; RI: 2,654.82 ± 244.52 µM) and hypophosphatemia (1645.16 µM; RI: 1787.1 ± 341.94 µM); and minimal hypernatremia (153 mM; RI: 148.86 ± 3.24 mM), hyperkalemia (5.2 mM; RI: 4.94 ± 0.62 mM) and hyperchloremia (112 mM; RI: 101.90 ± 2.81 mM). The reference ranges for interpretation of the haematology and serum biochemistry results were based on previous studies of Taiwanese pangolins by Chin et al (). Antibiotics (amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid 62.5 mg/kg) and fluid therapy (lactated Ringer's solution 50 ml) were administered subcutaneously twice a day.…”

The addition of soil and chitin into Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) diets affect digestibility, faecal scoring, mean retention time and body weight

“…There are eight species of pangolins—four African and four Asian species—all listed as CITES Appendix I (Challender, Nguyen, Jones, & May, ). These species are all highly threatened because of the illegal wildlife trade due to the demand for their scales and meat (Chin & Pantel, ; Chin et al, ; Ling, ; Newtonn, Nguyen, Roberton, & Bell, ). When confiscations occur, the pangolins are brought to a designated rescue centre within the country of seizure.…”