Effect of capture method on hematological and serum biochemical values of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Turkey

Abstract

Hematological and serum biochemical values were measured in blood samples collected from ten adult red deer (Cervus elaphus) which were captured physically or by the use of a combination of xylazine/ketamine. The investigated hematological values were white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and platelets count. The serum values of glucose, total bilirubin, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT), Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), amylase, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, Total Protein (TP), albumin and globulin were also measured. Heart and respiratory rates decreased in chemically captured animals, while rectal temperature did not fall in any group. The physically captured animals revealed significantly higher packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, glucose, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase than the chemically captured deer.