Blood coagulation times in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus).
BACKGROUND
Many causes of mortality in the European brown hare, such as bacterial and viral infections, anticoagulant poisoning, and trauma, may result in hemorrhage. There are, however, no reference values concerning blood clotting in this species.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine reference values for blood coagulation times and related parameters in healthy European brown hares.


METHODS
Blood samples from 30 clinically healthy adult hares (15 males and 15 females) were obtained. Hares were physically restrained for blood collection from the cephalic vein into tubes containing citrate and EDTA.


RESULTS
Mean +/- SD were obtained for thrombin time (TT) (13.97 +/- 1.37 seconds), prothrombin time (PT) (13.32 +/- 2.15 seconds), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (16.73 +/- 1.86 seconds), fibrinogen concentration (2.98 +/- 1.06 g/L), and platelet count (355.28 +/- 128.73 x 10(9)/L).


CONCLUSIONS
Reference values for blood coagulation times and other parameters associated with blood clotting will be useful in the laboratory evaluation of hemorrhage in the European brown hare.
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. pikulaj@vfu.cz
Jiri
J
Pikula
Vojtech
V
Adam
Hana
H
Bandouchova
Miroslava
M
Beklova
Jana
J
Horakova
Hana
H
Horakova
Rene
R
Kizek
Sona
S
Krizkova
Blanka
B
Skocovska
Veronika
V
Supalkova
Michal
M
Svoboda
Frantisek
F
Tremi
Frantisek
F
Vitula
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D034621:Hares / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time / Q000662:veterinary*