Haematology of clinically normal and sick captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Department of Veterinary Science, Zoological Society of London.

A retrospective analysis of haematological values from clinically normal captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) showed that the red cell count, haemoglobin level, packed cell volume and lymphocyte count were higher and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and eosinophil count were lower in juveniles than in adults. Newborn animals were anaemic compared with juveniles and adults and had high reticulocyte counts. The values from healthy reindeer were used to identify abnormal haematological variations in a number of sick animals. It was shown that reindeer exhibit similar haemopathological responses to those of other artiodactyla, with increases in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen level being of particular diagnostic significance. Eosinophilia was the only abnormal haematological finding in individuals with subclinical infections of intestinal parasites.