Hematological Values of Eld's Deer (Rucervus eldii) in Thailand: A Retrospective study

Abstract

Hematological values are used as basic indicators for assessing animal health and commonly obtained through a complete blood count (CBC) examination. These parameters reflect the physiological condition and disease resistance of animals. This study aimed to investigate the hematological values of Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) using retrospective CBC data from 26 samples (17 males and 9 females). The samples were collected from deer at a wildlife breeding station, Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, Thailand, undergoing routine health examinations and sampling under anesthesia between June and July 2014. The results showed that the mean red blood cell count was 11.43 x 10⁶/µL. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 36.38 fL, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was 12.25 pg, and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was 33.67 g/dL. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) was 46.31%, and the mean hemoglobin concentration was 13.98 g/dL. The mean white blood cell count was 3.27 x 10³ cells/µL. Differential leukocyte counts showed mean lymphocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte, and basophil percentages of 51.69%, 43.00%, 3.08%, 1.58%, and 0.65%, respectively. The mean platelet count was 432.08 x 10³ cells/µL. Statistical analysis using the Independent Student’s t-test revealed no statistically significant differences in hematological parameters between male and female Eld’s deer (P>0.05). The findings of this study can serve as useful reference data for health assessment in Eld’s deer, as well as for the disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring by veterinarians. In addition, these results provide important baseline biological data for future research on this species.