Variability in hematology of white‐spotted bamboo sharks ( Chiloscyllium plagiosum ) in different living environments

Elasmobranch hematology continues to reveal new peculiarities within this specialized field. This report compares total hematologic values from the same white‐spotted bamboo sharks ( Chiloscyllium plagiosum ) housed in different environments. We compared the hemograms one year apart, using a standardized Natt‐Herrick's technique. The total white blood cell (WBC) counts of the sharks were statistically different between the two time points (initial median total WBC count = 18,920 leukocytes/μl, SD = 8,108; 1 year later total WBC count = 1,815 leukocytes/μl, SD = 1,309). The packed cell volumes were additionally found to be statistically different (19%, SD = 2.9 vs. 22%, SD = 2.0). Analysis revealed the only differences between the time points were the temperature and stocking densities at which these sharks were housed. This report emphasizes the need for a thorough understanding of the husbandry of an elasmobranch prior to interpretation of a hemogram and suggests that reference intervals should be created for each environment.