Canine hematology and biochemistry reference values.

Reference hematology and biochemistry values for 53 variables are presented from 51 clinically healthy dogs, 26 female and 25 male, approximately six to 24 months of age and of mixed breed. These dogs were sampled because of their good health status and the opportunity to collect the volume of blood required to complete the variable analysis of interest. Collection of blood specimens and laboratory analysis was done in a standard described manner, the latter including a continuing quality control program. For each variable the data were examined for homogeneity and when present, outliers (n = 9) were excluded. Parametric analysis was used to calculate the reference interval for those variables which had a Gaussian distribution or could be changed to a Gaussian distribution by any of four transformations. For those variables in which Gaussian distribution was not present or attained, nonparametric analysis was used. Due to the small size of the population sample, the uncertainty of breed and the exact age of each dog, breed, age and sex effects were not examined. Reference values should be used to assist interpretation of observations obtained from an animal or animals of comparable origin, i.e. similar subpopulation, and only if the same laboratory techniques are followed. Until each laboratory is able to generate reference values using adequate sample size and current methodology for the numerous subpopulations of interest, reference intervals such as these are useful to clinicians and researchers.     

Hematology and biochemistry reference values for Ontario swine.

The purpose of this study was to establish blood reference values for Ontario swine from various age groups. Weanling pigs, feeder pigs, gilts and sows on 11 randomly selected swine farms were sampled using the orbital sinus bleeding technique. Routine hematological and biochemical determinations were performed using whole blood and serum. For the variables examined in each age group the means, the standard deviations and the 95% upper and lower limits were calculated.     

Hematology and biochemistry reference values for the ranch fox.

Reference hematology and biochemistry values are presented from a mixed population of 30 silver and red foxes of both sexes, reared and living under fox-farming conditions in southern Ontario. Based on history and physical examination, the animals in this study were clinically healthy at the time of blood collection and maintained under similar husbandry practices. The observations were examined for outliers and Gaussian distribution before and after one of three transformations. Parametric analysis was used to determine lower and upper reference limits. Where observations were not Gaussian, minimum and maximum values are given. These reference values are presented as a usable first approximation of population reference values to assist clinicians and researchers in their interpretation of observations obtained from foxes of similar populations.     

Hematology and biochemistry reference values for female Holstein cattle.

Reference intervals are presented for 14 hematology and 32 biochemistry variables from four age groups of female Holstein cattle (n = 172) selected randomly from six well managed farms. Each animal was examined by a clinician and with the history available considered to be clinically normal at the time of blood collection. The variable observations were examined for outliers and Gaussian distribution prior to parametric or where necessary, nonparametric analysis. Many differences were noted between age groups but few between farms.     

Plasma biochemistry reference values of wild bonnethead sharks,Sphyrna tiburo

Background — Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are of commercial, sport, research, and exhibit importance, however, blood chemistry reference values have been determined for few of these species. Objectives — The purpose of this study was to establish plasma biochemistry and PCV reference values for wild bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo). Methods — Heparinized blood samples were collected from 24 bonnethead sharks at the time of capture in trawl nets off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Weight, length, PCV, total solids (TS, by refractometry), and plasma biochemical analyses were done using standard techniques. Wilcoxon rank‐sum and Kendall tau b tests were used to compare values by animal size, boat and sex; 1–way ANOVA was used to compare TS and total protein (TP) concentrations. Results — Median (quartiles; minimum‐maximum) values were as follows: PCV 22% (22%, 26%; 17–28%), TS 6.3 (6.0, 6.8; 5.8–7.5) g/dL, total protein 2.9 (2.7,3.4; 2.2–4.3) g/dL, albumin 0.4 (0.4,0.4; 0.3–0.5) g/dL, globulins 2.6 (2.3,3.0; 1.9–3.8) g/dL, sodium 282 (279, 285; 273–292) mmol/L, potassium 7.3 (6.4, 7.9; 5.7–9.2) mmol/L, chloride 290 (285, 296; 277–304) mmol/L, total CO₂ 3 (2, 4; 0–5) mmol/L, calcium 16.8 (16.2,17.4; 15.8–18.2) mg/dL, phosphorus 8.8 (7.5,10.0; 5.9–12.7) mg/dL, urea nitrogen 1004 (986, 1028; 944–1068) mg/dL, creatinine <0.1 mg/dL, glucose 184 (165, 191; 155–218) mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase 42 (33, 66; 15–132) U/L, lactate dehydrogenase <5 U/L, creatine kinase 82 (47, 233; 18–725) U/L, and osmolality 1094 (1078,1111; 1056–1139) mOsm/kg. No differences based on sex were detected. TS and total TP values were related by the fitted line TS = (1.006 × TP) + 3.318. Conclusions — Values reported here will be useful for evaluating the health status of bonnetheads in wild and captive research conditions and in exhibits.     

Plasma biochemistry reference values of wild-caught southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana).

Stingrays are prominent marine animals; however, there are few published reference values for their blood chemistry and hematology. Twenty-eight southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana) were caught using the bottom trawl nets of fishery-independent boats operated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources during June and July 2002 from Winyah Bay, South Carolina, to St. Augustine, Florida. Median values of blood and plasma obtained from live animals promptly after capture are as follows: packed cell volume = 0.22 L/L (22%), total solids (TS) = 56.5 g/L (5.65 g/dl), total protein (TP) = 26 g/L (2.6 g/dl), sodium = 315 mmol/L, potassium = 4.95 mmol/L, chloride = 342 mmol/L, calcium = 4.12 mmol/L (16.5 mg/dl), phosphorus = 1.5 mmol/L (4.7 mg/dl), urea nitrogen = 444 mmol/L (1,243 mg/dl), glucose = 1.69 mmol/L (30 mg/dl), aspartate aminotransferase = 14.5 U/L, creatine phosphokinase = 80.5 U/L, osmolality = 1065 mOsm/kg, and lactate = 3.1 mmol/L. Bicarbonate was less than the low end of the instrument range (5 mmol/L) in all but three samples. Anion gap was negative in all samples. Albumin was less than the low end of the instrument range (1 g/dl) in all except one sample. Osmolality was significantly higher in the rays caught in the southern region. TS and TP values were linearly related to each other, and the equation for the fitted line is TS = (11.61 x TP) + 25.4 (in g/L) [or TS = (1.161 x TP) + 2.54 (in g/dl)]. The reference ranges reported in this study can be used to aid in the management of aquarium stingrays and to create a baseline for health monitoring of the wild Dasyatis spp.     

Haematology and serum biochemistry in the racing greyhound following intraperitoneal povidone-iodine

Povidone-iodine caused peritonitis with neutrophilic leukocytosis and a minimal left shift at the dosage rate of 3.5 ml/kg body weight. A dosage rate of 2 ml/kg only caused slight neutrophilic leukocytosis. There was a significant increase in the levels of creatinine (p=0.049) and BUN (p=0.020) in dogs that received the higher dose rate. Two dogs died from povidone-iodine toxicity with a marked increase in ALT, AP, SDH and conjugated bilirubin. It is concluded that povidone-iodine is unsafe for use in the peritoneal cavity of dogs.     

Haematology and blood biochemistry during the course of psoroptic scabies in sheep

Haematology and blood biochemistry were monitored during the development and regression of psoroptic scabies in sheep. There were rises in numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils and in the fibrinogen concentrations, with lowered haemoglobin concentrations any lymphocyte numbers. The only biochemical parameters that were affected were the estimated serum globulin concentration, which rose during the disease process, and the serum albumin concentration, which fell. All of these changes reverted to normal soon after treatment.Abbreviations CK creatine kinase - Diff WBC differential white blood cell - E eosinophils - GOT asparate aminotransferase - GT glutamyl transferase - Hb haemoglobin - Ly lymphocytes - M monocytes - N neutrophils - WBC white blood cell count     

Subject-based reference values: biological variation, individuality, and reference change values

Subject-based reference values have been largely overlooked in veterinary medicine. These values represent longitudinal data rather than the cross-sectional data represented by standard population-based reference values. As such they provide information about biological and analytical variation. Inherent random variation of analytes around a homeostatic set point is referred to as biological variation; data on biological variation are underutilized in veterinary medicine and have multiple applications that include setting analytical goals, predicting the utility of population-based reference intervals (RIs), assessing the value of partitioning reference values, and evaluating the significance of changes in serial results. To generate these data, relatively few individuals are sampled for a short period of time. Given the difficulty of obtaining specimens from large number of healthy individuals to establish a cross-sectional RI for many veterinary species, especially exotic species, use of subject-based RIs is a practical alternative approach for the veterinary diagnostician. Furthermore, for the majority of biochemical analytes and even many hemostatic variables, population-based reference values are less sensitive than subject-based reference values for detecting pathologic changes in an individual. The focus of this review is the clinical usefulness of subject-based reference values and diagnostic implications for their use. Implementation of the concepts of biological variation, individuality, and reference change value (RCV) may allow large diagnostic laboratories to offer more sensitive reference values to assess health and detect disease.     

Clinical biochemical values of llamas: reference values

Fifteen clinical biochemical measurements were done on serum from 64 clinically healthy adult llamas (26 males and 38 females). Values for several of these tests were different from those reported for llamas and from reference values for other domesticated ruminants. Comparison of values between males and females revealed significant differences for several tests. Clinical biochemical values reported in the present study can serve as reference values for adult llamas.     

Age-specific plasma biochemistry reference ranges in <1 year old dogs in Japan

The purpose of this study was to investigate and propose possible reference intervals of plasma biochemical analytes in young dogs (<12 months old) in Japan, using 896 canine plasma samples, collected from an array of veterinary clinics throughout the greater Tokyo metropolis area in Japan. The following biochemical parameters were assessed: albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), amylase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), glucose, lipase, total cholesterol (T-Cho), and total protein (TP) were evaluated. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that partitioning according to age or gender may be necessary for some plasma analytes. Age appeared to significantly affect ALB, ALT, ALP, BUN, Glucose, Lipase, and Total Protein (P=?<0.001, <0.001, <0.001, 0.013, <0.001, 0.025, and <0.001, respectively). On the other hand, gender significantly influenced ALP, Amylase, Lipase, and T-Cho levels (P=0.017, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively) whereas it may be borderline significant with ALT (P=0.072).     

Serum biochemistry values in normal pygmy goats

Blood serum of pygmy goats (both sexes, and castrated males) was analyzed to establish biochemical reference values. Influence of age on reference values was also studied. Serum biochemical analyses were made for urea nitrogen, creatinin, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, uric acid, and total lipids. These serum values for pygmy goats were similar to those reported for man, except as follows: Aspartate aminotransferase activities were slightly higher than those reported for man. Glucose concentrations in pygmy goats were slightly lower than in human beings, and uric acid levels were significantly lower than the values for man. Female and castrated male goats had lower total lipid concentrations than did human beings, whereas intact males had higher concentrations. Thus, of the 9 measured variables for pygmy goats, 5 were comparable to human values. This, together with other attributes, including the small size which conduces to economics of maintenance and enhances the desirability of using pygmy goats in research.     

Haematology of the racing Thoroughbred in Australia 2: haematological values compared to performance

Eight hundred and sixteen blood samples were collected from Thoroughbred racehorses at the race track, 1 to 3 h before racing, and subjected to routine haematological examination. Attempts were made to correlate the haemogram with subsequent performance. Races were classified according to age, class and distance, and performances were grouped according to distance from the winner. Intra- and interclass comparisons were made but no relationship emerged between racing performance and the haemogram. The haemograms of individual horses on different occasions were compared with subsequent performance, but no consistent or significant relationships were apparent. The extent of the rise in red and white cell parameters between horses at rest and immediately before racing were examined as indicators of performance, but no correlations found. It was concluded that under the conditions of this survey no relationship existed between the haemogram of the Thoroughbred racehorse and its racing performance.     

Electrocardiographic reference values in whippets

The aim of this study was to determine the electrocardiographic characteristics of whippets and to compare the results with published reference values for a general dog population. Electrocardiographic parameters from 105 healthy whippets were used to establish reference values for the breed.The most important differences compared to published reference values were the higher median R-wave amplitudes in leads II, CV₆LL and CV₆LU. For some parameters (P-wave amplitude, ST-segment deflection and T-wave amplitude in lead II; R-wave amplitude in CV₅RL), a marked percentage of the whippet values were above the published maximum reference data. The results confirmed that whippets have electrocardiographic characteristics similar to those reported in athletic heart syndrome in humans. Some of these characteristics could be erroneously taken as evidence of cardiac disease and clinicians should be aware of these factors to prevent unnecessary investigations in healthy dogs.     

Measurement of alpha-amylase activity in cat plasma: test of specificity of a chromogenic substrate,reference values

Glucoamylase activity can interfere with the measurement of alpha-amylase activity in cat plasma. This can be avoided by the use of "blocked" substrates such as 4,6-O-benzylidene-4-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside. In 241 healthy cats, reference values were 586 +/- 241 U/L (m +/- standard deviation) at 30 degrees C; age, sex, overnight fasting, and mild hemolysis had no significant effect.