title: Health assessment of the Christmas Island flying fox (Pteropus melanotus natalis).
abstract: During July-August 2010, 28 Christmas Island flying foxes (Pteropus melanotus natalis) were captured and anesthetized for examination, sample collection, and release to determine the potential role of disease in recent population declines. Measurements and samples were taken for morphologic, hematologic, biochemical, and parasitologic analysis. These are the first blood reference ranges reported for this species. These data are being used to inform investigations into conservation status and population management strategies for the Christmas Island flying fox.
authors.affiliation: 1  Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, PO Box 20, Mosman New South Wales 2088, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Karrie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Jong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phalen
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Austen
authors.forename: Hume
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012016:Reference Values
keywords: Christmas Island flying fox; Pteropus melanotus natalis; hematology; morphologic; plasma biochemistry