Hematology, serum biochemistry and oncotic pressure in mules

Abstract

The almost inexistent hematologic and biochemical reference values for mules described in Brazilian and foreign actual literature forces field and attending veterinarians that work with these animals, to base laboratorial evaluations and results on parameter values described for other species. This may lead to interpretation errors. The purpose of this project is to determine hematologic and biochemical reference values for mules and compare them with the values obtained from the animals' ancestors (or progenitors) and/or with animals of the same breed as their ancestors. The development of the project will require the utilization of 300 animals of different ages, including mules, mares and donkeys from the same properties (giving preference to the animals' progenitors). The following laboratorial evaluations will be analyzed from the obtained blood samples: blood count, platelet count, plasma fibrinogen, glycemia, oncotic pressure, urea, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum bilirubin, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, lactate, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chloride, magnesium and iron. (AU)