BLOOD PARAMETERS IN WILD RUMINANTS IN KENYA

¹ Wildlife Diseases Section, Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Kabete, Kenya

Blood specimens from shot or drug-immobilized impala (Aepyceros, melampus), Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii), Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti), mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorupula), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii), topi (Damaliscus korrigum), eland (Taurotragus oryx), buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) have been studied for the following parameters: erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, haematocrit and haemoglobin estimations, and serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium and copper values. Both shot and drug-immobilized impala and shot wildebeest and topi had relatively high numbers of erythrocytes. The haematocrit and haemoglobin values were found to be comparatively low in the buffalo. Calcium and inorganic phosphorus values were low in the reedbuck and inorganic phosphorus low in the topi, when compared to normal values for domestic ruminants.

When comparing data from shot and drug-immobilized impala, wildebeest and eland, statistically significantly higher values were found in erythrocyte counts, haematocrit and haemoglobin estimation in shot impala and wildebeest. Inorganic phosphorus was significantly higher in shot eland and wildebeest compared to immobilized animals of these species.