Abstract:
An alarming number of pangolins are currently illegally traded for their scales
and meat. Many pangolins confiscated from the trade are severely clinically
compromised. Unfortunately, little is known about the physiology and normal
health of pangolin, making it difficult to identify disease processes and treat
them. The purpose of this study was to establish reference intervals (RIs) for
haematology and plasma clinical chemistry in the Temminck’s ground
pangolin. Blood samples were collected from 27 healthy free-living or
rehabilitated pangolins and reference intervals were generated according to
international guidelines. Clinical chemistry analysis was performed using the
Abaxis VetScan VS2 and Cobas Integra 400 Plus analyser and haematology
was performed using the Abaxis VetScan HM5 analyser. Vetscan VS2 plasma
clinical chemistry RIs were: albumin 26-41 g/L, amylase 316-1014 U/L, ALP
29-153 U/L, ALT 25-307 U/L, bilirubin 1.5-10.8 mol/L, calcium 1.8-2.5
mmol/L, creatinine 9.7-46.3 mol/L, glucose 3.8-10.0 mmol/L, phosphate 1.3-
2.6 mmol/L, total protein 53-84 g/L, and urea 5.6-19.9 mmol/L. Cobas plasma
clinical chemistry RIs were: albumin 19-33 g/L, amylase 396-1669 U/L, ALP
25-301 U/L, ALT 17-291 U/L, bilirubin 1.5-18.3 mol/L, calcium 1.8-2.4
mmol/L, creatinine <58 mol/L, glucose 3.6-10.1 mmol/L, phosphate 0.9-2.3
mmol/L, total protein 48-74 g/L, and urea 6.2-20.4 mmol/L. Haematology RIs were: WBC 1.8-10.71 x109/L, RBC 3.88-8.31 x1012/L, HGB 73-150 g/L, HCT
26-51%, MCV 55-72 fL, MCH 15.6-21.4 pg, MCHC 242-332 g/L, and RDW
14.3-19.1%. The Wilcoxon test revealed significant differences between
results for the following measurands for the Cobas versus the Abaxis Vetscan
VS2: albumin (p = <0.0001); ALT (p = <0.0001); amylase (p= <0.0001);
bilirubin (p= 0.038); calcium (p= <0.0001); phosphate (p= <0.0001); total
protein (p= <0.0001); urea (p= <0.0001). RIs for some measurands were
wide, probably due to the small sample size. Nevertheless, these are the first
RIs generated for the Temminck’s ground pangolin and the results presented
here will allow veterinarians to better determine the health status of pangolin
patients, thus enabling them to formulate optimal treatment plans in the hope
of increasing patient survival rates of this endangered species.
