Hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals for wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)

Background: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial threatened with extinction by a fatally infectious cancer known as devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Conservation efforts including captive breeding and island translocations are underway to address this threat.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals (RI) to aid in health assessment of Tasmanian devils, and to examine seasonal, sex, reproductive status and age variations.

Methods: We collected jugular blood samples from individual wild Tasmanian devils at 2 different locations over a 2-year period to determine hematologic and serum biochemical RI by nonparametric methods using the central 0.95 fraction.

Results: A total of 307 blood samples were collected from 187 devils. Significant age differences were found for ALP, CK, cholesterol, calcium, phosphate, albumin, globulins, albumin: globulin ratio, and glucose. Significant differences between sexes were observed for AST, creatinine, and potassium. Significant seasonal or reproductive status variation in adult males or breeding females were observed for PCV, HGB, RBC, MCHC, MCH, MCV, neutrophils and lymphocytes, fibrinogen, total plasma protein, AST, ALP, ALT, GLDH, bilirubin, urea, calcium, chloride, total protein, albumin, A:G, and glucose.

Conclusions: Many of the differences observed between subgroups can be explained by growth requirements, reproductive demands, and seasonal effects on activity. This study has determined comprehensive RI for the Tasmanian devil, which will be used to assess animals targeted for captive breeding and translocations, or affected by DFTD.