Clinical Evaluation, Hematology and Serum Chemistry of Ocelots in the Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 16/05484-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Eliana Reiko Matushima
• Grantee: Eliana Reiko Matushima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the last decades, many research papers brought to evidence the potential impact of diseases in wild animal populations. However, few studies focused on establishing parameters to reliably differentiate healthy from sick animals. Thus, we present clinical, hematological and serum chemistry data from nine healthy ocelots and one ill ocelot captured in 2012 and 2013. Laboratory results were compared to mean values of captive ocelots and reference ranges for domestic cats. Free-ranging ocelots presented an overall increase in white blood cells, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea nitrogen and triglycerides, probably due to handling conditions. Free-ranging ocelots also presented hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperuricemia. (AU)