Hematological characteristics and hemoglobin typing of the Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus)

Hematological values and hemoglobin typing were determined in 30 Persian squirrels (15 females and 15 males) with no clinical signs of disease. The following results'(mean +/- standard deviation) were obtained: red blood cell count 7.18 +/- 10(6) mu L; packed cell volume 46 +/- 6%; hemoglobin concentration (Hb) 15.5 +/- 1.5 g/dL; mean corpuscular volume 52.4 +/- 8 fl; mean corpuscular hemoglobin 22.5 +/- 2.7 pg; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, 33 +/- 1.7%; white blood cell count 4.35 +/- 1.42 X 10(3) mu L; neutrophils 2.4 +/- 0.9 X 10(3) mu L; lymphocytes 1.8 +/- 0.8 X 10(3)mu L; monocytes 0.37 +/- 0.04 X 10(3) mu L; eosinophils 0.37 +/- 0.05 X 10(3) mu L; blasophils 0.37 +/- 0.06 X 10(3) mu L; platelets (433 +/- 15) X 10(3) mu L; plasma total protein 7.44 +/- 0.46 g/dL. Two types of Hb (Hb A and Hb F) were found in Persian squirrels by the cellulose acetate method. Hb A accounted for more than 99% of the total Hb. Copyright 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.