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Variability in hematology of white‐spotted bamboo sharks ( Chiloscyllium plagiosum ) in different living environments
Author(s) -
Parkinson Lily A.,
Alexander Amy B.,
Campbell Terry W.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.21371
Subject(s) - biology , hematology , white blood cell , bamboo , animal husbandry , stocking , zoology , veterinary medicine , ecology , immunology , agriculture , medicine
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.