COMPOSITION OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN CLINICALLY NORMAL GRIZZLY BEARS (URSUS ARCTOS HORRIBILIS).

Abstract

Five cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from four clinically normal grizzly bears from the Washington State University Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center. CSF samples were collected from the cerebellomedullary cisternal space. Samples were immediately processed and analyzed for microprotein content, red blood cells, white blood cells (WBCs), and differential cell count. Microprotein concentration (range 4.2-14.6 mg/dl; median, less than 6 mg/dl), total WBC count (range 0-2 cells/µl; median 2 cells/µl), and differential WBCs (predominance mononuclear cells) of the five CSF samples were comparable to previously published CSF analyses from clinically normal felines and canines. Providing documentation of CSF composition for clinically normal grizzly bears is important for neurologic disease diagnosis and treatment.