title: Results of hematologic analyses and prevalence of physiologic leukopenia in Belgian Tervuren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine reference ranges for results of hematologic analyses of healthy Belgian Tervuren, to compare results of hematologic analyses for healthy Belgian Tervuren with results for healthy dogs of other breeds, and to determine prevalence of physiologic leukopenia in Belgian Tervuren.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  180 healthy Belgian Tervuren and 63 healthy dogs of other breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were analyzed by use of an automated device. Reference ranges were calculated for Belgian Tervuren by use of standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total WBC counts of Belgian Tervuren ranged from 2.61 to 16.90 x 10(3)/microl. Mean WBC count of Belgian Tervuren (mean +/- SEM, 7.04 +/- 0.16 x 10(3)/microl) was significantly lower than mean count for control dogs. Significantly more Belgian Tervuren (65/180; 36%) than control dogs (2/63; 3%) had WBC counts < 6.00 x 10(3)/microl. Percentage of Belgian Tervuren with WBC count < 6.00 x 103/microl was low for dogs < or = 2 years old, increased sharply for dogs between 2 and 4 years old, and was approximately 65% for dogs > 4 years old. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts were significantly lower, and RBC count, hematocrit, and eosinophil fraction were significantly higher in Belgian Tervuren than in control dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that physiologic leukopenia, resulting from low numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, may be a typical finding in a large percentage of healthy Belgian Tervuren and is not of clinical importance in otherwise healthy dogs. Healthy Belgian Tervuren may also have RBC counts and hematocrits higher than expected for healthy dogs.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Messick
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Solter
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values