Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of the Tammar Wallaby, Macropus eugenii

Abstract:

Haematological and serum biochemical data have been collected from a total of 104 tammar wallabies maintained in a captive population at Macquarie University, NSW, Australia. These data have been analysed with respect to the effects of age, sex and seasonality. Age-related effects were apparent for both haematological parameters and serum biochemistry. Erythrocyte parameters, including haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, haematocrit, macrocyte volume index and mean corpuscular haemaglobin, but not the leucocyte parameters, total leucocyte count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, platelets and maximum packed volume, differed between the sexes. Seasonal effects were apparent in both leucocyte and erythrocyte parameters. Serum parameters of total protein and bilirubin were higher in autumn whereas alkaline phosphatase values were higher in summer. These data will serve as an effective management tool for assessing and monitoring the health status of individuals, particularly those in captivity.