HEMATOLOGICAL AND BLOOD CHEMISTRY VALUES IN SNOW LEOPARD (Panthera uncia) FROM KHUNJERAB NATIONAL PARK, GILGIT BALTISTAN, PAKISTAN - T. Hussain; M. E. Babar; Ziaullah; W. A. Khan (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2016)
A blood sample of a female snow leopard maintained at Khunjerab National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan was obtained after being tranquilized with a combination of Medotomidine and Ketamine for investigation of basic hematological and blood chemistry values as baseline information. The vital signs were monitored during the procedure and complete physical examination was performed once the leopard was captured, everything was found in normal healthy condition. Moreover, the animal was not found pregnant. The blood sample was analyzed at the Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, (UVAS) Lahore for hematology, blood chemistry and some hormones. The results were compared with available reference values. The hemoglobin concentration in leopard’s serum was 13.4 g/dl, WBC count was 8.1 x 109/L, total Erythrocyte count was 7.9 x 1012/L, and Platelet Count was 273 x 109/L. The results of Differential counts showed 48 % Neutrophils, 42% Lymphocytes, 9% Monocytes and 1% Eosinophils. The chemical analysis of serum revealed Sodium 150 mmol/L, Potassium 4.7 mmol/L, Chloride 117 mmol/L, Serum Albumins 3.0 g/dl, Calcium 10.3 mg/dl, ALT 131 U/L, AST 211 U/L, Cholesterol 159 mg/dl and Triglycerides 211 mg/dl. The Hormonal assay revealed Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (0.0147 IU/ml and Testosterone 1729 pg/ml.
Keywords: journal article; Blood chemistry; Hematological investigations; Khunjerab National Park; Snow leopard