Hematologic, serum biochemistry and urinary values for captive Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) in São Paulo state, Brazil

Mattoso C. R. S., Catenacci L. S., Beier S. L., Lopes R. S. & Takahira R. K. 2012. Hematologic, serum biochemistry and urinary values for captive Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 32(6):559-566. Laboratorio Clinico Veterinario, Departamento de Clinica Veterinaria, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu, Distrito de Rubiao Junior s/n, Botucatu, SP 18618-970, Brazil. E-mail: crsmattoso@yahoo.com The importance of studies with hematological, serum biochemistry and urinary values of Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) is based on the need for health care and maintenance of those populations. This paper has the objective to investigate hematological, serum biochemistry and urinary physiological parameters of the Crab-eating fox, comparing gender and age differences. Blood samples were collected in 2003 from 52 animals of different Zoos in Sao Paulo state, Brazil; 7mL of blood was used to obtain a complete blood cell count (CBC) and the profile of the serum biochemistry. Moreover, 5mL of urine were collected for analysis. There was no difference in values for male and female animals, as for the CBC and serum biochemistry. Some hematological and serum biochemical parameters were influenced by age, showing significant differences. Urinalysis results were just demonstrated in a descriptive form. The studied values were, RBC 4.35 +/- 0.73x10(6)/mu L, WBC 7.72 +/- 3.66x10(3)/mu L (predominance of segmented neutrophils), platelets 227.06 +/- 111.58x10(3)/mu L, urea 43.06 +/- 14.28mg/dL and creatinine 1.03 +/- 0.24mg/dL. Hematological, serum biochemistry and urinary values obtained in this study can be used as physiological values of the captive Crab-eating Fox. It is possible to conclude that wild species need their own reference values, differentiating animals in captivity from free-ranging animals.