Preliminary evaluation of complete blood count and diurnal variation of hematological parameters in black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus)

Maja Belic,Tena Galesic,Mirna Robic,Romana Turk,Nika Dvojkovic,Maja Lukac

doi:10.2298/vetgl190506004b

Abstract

Introduction. The purposes of this study were to determine the presence of daily variations in hematological parameters of the black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) and to compare them with the reference interval values of its subspecies, yellow rat snake (Pantherophis obsoleta quadrivittata). Materials and Methods. Blood from four black rat snakes was collected in the morning and in the evening, and after each collection, blood smears, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin concentration (HGB) were determined, while erythrocyte indices of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were calculated and differential leukocyte counts were evaluated. Results and Conclusions. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the blood parameters in the morning and in the evening. Most of the complete blood count values in the black rat snakes were lower, but still within the reference range of those found in the literature for the yellow rat snake. The results of hematological parameters of the black rat snake could be beneficial for further research of physiological and pathological variations in complete blood count of these snakes, for diagnosing health conditions and for detecting various diseases.

Highlights

The purposes of this study were to determine the presence of daily variations in hematological parameters of the black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) and to compare them with the reference interval values of its subspecies, yellow rat snake (Pantherophis obsoleta quadrivittata)
Blood from four black rat snakes was collected in the morning and in the evening, and after each collection, blood smears, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin concentration (HGB) were determined, while erythrocyte indices of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were calculated and differential leukocyte counts were evaluated
Four black rat snakes from the same litter and kept by the same owner were clinically evaluated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb

Summary

Introduction

The purposes of this study were to determine the presence of daily variations in hematological parameters of the black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) and to compare them with the reference interval values of its subspecies, yellow rat snake (Pantherophis obsoleta quadrivittata). (Campbell and Ellis, 2007) All these factors can significantly affect the hematological parameters in healthy animals during the year. Some external factors such as venipuncture site, temperature and diet can be controlled and influenced by people and so variations in hemogram results that occur due to these factors can be prevented. Other factors, such as age, gender, animal species or season cannot be influenced, but knowing them, their effect on quantitative changes of some hematological parameters can be explained (Žilčnik and Halán, 2013; Tosunoğlu et al, 2011). There are many studies published on the hematology and biochemistry of snakes (Rousselet et al, 2017; LaGrange et al, 2014; Sykes and Klaphake, 2008; Dabrowski et al, 2007; Strik et al, 2007; Harr et al, 2008; Alleman et al, 1999), but some snake species remain for which hematological and biochemical data are insufficient or do not exist at all

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