title: Hematologic and plasma biochemical reference intervals for Morelet's crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) in the northern wetlands of Campeche, Mexico.
abstract: Health surveys and hematologic and plasma biochemical analyses were conducted in 52 free-ranging and 51 captive Morelet's crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) in Campeche, Mexico, March-September 2007. Blood samples from 92 crocodiles (45 free-ranging and 47 captive) were collected for hematologic and plasma biochemical analyses. Average values of erythrocytes of free-ranging crocodiles were 1,046,166 cells/μl, and total white cells were 1.03 × 10(4) cells/μl. Captive crocodiles had erythrocyte and leukocyte values of 1,100,416 cells/μl and 8.51 × 10(3) cells/μl, respectively. There were no significant differences in values of erythrocytes or in hematocrit between free-ranging and captive crocodiles, or between sexes, or among size classes. Counts of leukocytes in free-ranging crocodiles were significantly higher than in captive individuals. The mean values of plasma analytes were 69.55 mg/l (glucose), 250.14 mg/l (cholesterol), 3.04 mg/l (uric acid), 2.70 mg/l (creatinine), and 20.20 IU/l (alanine aminotransferase). There were significant differences in cholesterol between free-ranging and captive crocodiles and between sexes.
authors: Centro de Estudios de Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Av. Agustiín Melgar s/n. CP 24039, Campeche, Campeche, México.
authors: Sergio E
authors: SE
authors: Padilla
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Weber
authors: Elliott R
authors: ER
authors: Jacobson
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol