Hematology and serum biochemistry of European mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) in Croatia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the reference intervals for the most commonly used hematological and biochemical parameters of European mouflon from a closed hunting ground in the eastern part of the Republic of Croatia. Blood samples were collected from 39 live, physically restrained, clinically normal European mouflon, as well as from 50 domestic sheep. The distribution of values within each parameter was determined and statistical differences in values between sexes were also determined. For each sample, 14 hematological and 18 biochemical parameters were analyzed. Hematology and biochemistry values of the European mouflon were also compared with the values of domestic sheep. In further studies, the established values might be useful for the health assessment of mouflon.

Serum biochemical values of mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) according to age and sex

“…Comparing those reference biochemistry values with ours, they almost match even though they took the central 95th percentile as a reference interval for each parameter, so some parameters have broader limits. Our reference interval values for P and Ca are almost identical with those obtained by Mašek et al (2009). They reported higher AST and ALT upper limits, although the mean values of these parameters are also higher compared to ours.…”

“…It is not under physiological conditions that P serum levels are above the Ca serum levels, therefore, we may presume that some factors (possibly the feeds) influenced P serum values reported by Marco et al (1998). Mašek et al (2009) compared biochemistry values of mouflons and domestic sheep, and also gave reference intervals for those values. Comparing those reference biochemistry values with ours, they almost match even though they took the central 95th percentile as a reference interval for each parameter, so some parameters have broader limits.…”

“…Volmer and Hecht (2006) found some blood parameters as markers for successful differential diagnosis. Serum biochemical data are useful indicators of the health status of the animals and can be used as early warning signs of possible problems in population regarding feeding and parasite infestations (Mašek et al 2009). The aim of this study was to provide reference intervals for selected serum biochemical indicators for adult male, pregnant female, and young male and female mouflons and to elaborate possible differences between categories.…”

Biochemical indicators in serum of free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Slovenia

“…To date there are only few reports on the serum biochemistry in roe deer (Pav et al 1975;Ursache et al 1980;Montané et al 2002;Nicpoń et al 2006;HumannZiehank et al 2008), and most of the available data focused only on some indicators. Serum biochemical data are useful indicators of the health status of the animal and can be used as early warning signs of possible problems in the population regarding feeding and parasite infestation (Mašek et al 2009). …”

Assessment of some health parameters in West African Pygmy Goats and Cameroon Dwarf Sheep of a Zoo in Greece

“…n recent years more and more research is being done on the physiology and normal reference values of many wild, semi-wild or captive-"exotic" ungulates (Sakkinen et al 2005, Gupta et al 2007, Masek et al 2009). …”