title: Hematology of healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hematologic analysis is an important tool in evaluating the general health status of free-ranging manatees and in the diagnosis and monitoring of rehabilitating animals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostically important hematologic analytes in healthy manatees (Trichechus manatus) and to assess variations with respect to location (free ranging vs captive), age class (small calves, large calves, subadults, and adults), and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was collected from 55 free-ranging and 63 captive healthy manatees. Most analytes were measured using a CELL-DYN 3500R; automated reticulocytes were measured with an ADVIA 120. Standard manual methods were used for differential leukocyte counts, reticulocyte and Heinz body counts, and plasma protein and fibrinogen concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rouleaux, slight polychromasia, stomatocytosis, and low numbers of schistocytes and nucleated RBCs (NRBCs) were seen often in stained blood films. Manual reticulocyte counts were higher than automated reticulocyte counts. Heinz bodies were present in erythrocytes of most manatees. Compared with free-ranging manatees, captive animals had slightly lower MCV, MCH, and eosinophil counts and slightly higher heterophil and NRBC counts, and fibrinogen concentration. Total leukocyte, heterophil, and monocyte counts tended to be lower in adults than in younger animals. Small calves tended to have higher reticulocyte counts and NRBC counts than older animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hematologic findings were generally similar between captive and free-ranging manatees. Higher manual reticulocyte counts suggest the ADVIA detects only reticulocytes containing large amounts of RNA. Higher reticulocyte and NRBC counts in young calves probably reflect an increased rate of erythropoiesis compared with older animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Univeristy of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. harveyj@vetmed.ufl.edu
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Kendal E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Harr
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: Melanie G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: Holly H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Clapp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D020457:Trichechus manatus / Q000097:blood*