Haematology and Plasma Biochemistry of Wild Black Flying-Foxes, (Pteropus alecto) in Queensland, Australia.
This paper establishes reference ranges for hematologic and plasma biochemistry values in wild Black flying-foxes (Pteropus alecto) captured in South East Queensland, Australia. Values were found to be consistent with those of other Pteropus species. Four hundred and forty-seven animals were sampled over 12 months and significant differences were found between age, sex, reproductive and body condition cohorts in the sample population. Mean values for each cohort fell within the determined normal adult reference range, with the exception of elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase in juvenile animals. Hematologic and biochemistry parameters of injured animals showed little or no deviation from the normal reference values for minor injuries, while two animals with more severe injury or abscessation showed leucocytosis, anaemia, thrombocytosis, hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia.
School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia; Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Brisbane, Qld 4108, Australia.
Lee
L
McMichael
Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Brisbane, Qld 4108, Australia.
Daniel
D
Edson
Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Brisbane, Qld 4108, Australia.
Amanda
A
McLaughlin
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Brisbane, Qld 4103, Australia.
David
D
Mayer
School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
Steven
S
Kopp
School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
Joanne
J
Meers
EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY 10001, United States of America.
Hume
H
Field
D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal; D006405:Hematology; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland; D012016:Reference Values; D012098:Reproduction