Effect of pregnancy on some haematological and biochemical parameters in pregnant Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis)

Abstract

The haematological and biochemical parameters of endangered wild animals in gestation can provide the knowledge of normal physical conditions and recognition of every abnormality, then contribute to conservation and management. For better breeding management of Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) reintroduced population, a series of haematological and biochemical parameters were tested and analyzed, viz. white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), packed-cell volume (PCV), platelet count (PLT), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean red blood cells distribution width coefficient of variation (RDW) and different hematological parameters viz. total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), albumin to globulin ratio (A/G), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), AST/ALT, creatinine, urea (BUN), uric acid, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cortisol. The WBC value of non-pregnants was significantly higher than that of pregnants; the total cholesterol and total bilirubin concentration was significantly lower in pregnants. The hematological and serum biochemical parameters to change when the pregnant Chinese water deer pregnancy, which could be used in health monitoring and disease diagnosis of the Chinese water deer and reference for other cervids.