The haematology and serum biochemistry of wild fallow deer (Dama dama) in New South Wales.

Abstract

Fallow deer (Dama dama) were captured in an enclosure trap in southern New South Wales. Blood samples were collected for determination of haematological and biochemical values after capture and in one group after 3 h of transportation. Results were compared between fawns and does, transported and non-transported fawns, and transported and non-transported does. Fawns had higher haemoglobin, total red cell count, packed cell volume and lymphocyte numbers, but lower red cell indices and eosinophil numbers than does. Fawns also had lower levels of serum globulin than does, resulting in a higher albumin/globulin ratio in the former. The fawns had higher inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase but lower glucose and urea nitrogen. There were only minor differences in red cell parameters and indices between transported deer but there were significant differences in the differential leucocyte counts, with the former having a relative neutrophilia with left shift, lymphopaenia and eosinopaenia. The effects of transport were also reflected in higher activities of the muscle enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. The non-transported deer had higher total white cell counts and higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts than have been found previously in fallow deer.