NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKING GROUP
HOME ABOUT NEWS WORKSHOPS PUBLICATIONS AWARDS JOIN CONTACT

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP

Volume 11 : < Previous article   Next article >

Title:
THE EFFECTS OF ANTICOAGULANT CHOICE AND SAMPLE PROCESSING TIME ON HEMATOLOGIC VALUES OF JUVENILE WHOOPING CRANES


Date: 2010


Authors:
JOAN MAURER, Milwaukee County Zoo
BETSY REICHENBERG, International Crane Foundation
CRISTIN KELLEY, International Crane Foundation
BARRY K. HARTUP, International Crane Foundation

DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE ARTICLE


Citation:
Maurer, J., B. Reichenberg, C. Kelley, and B. K. Hartup. 2010. The effects of anticoagulant choice and sample processing time on hematologic values of juvenile whooping cranes. Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop 11:105-109.

Abstract:
Blood collected from juvenile whooping cranes (Grus americana) in 2007 and 2008 was divided and placed in either the anticoagulant lithium heparin (LiHep) or tri-potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (K3EDTA) for diagnostic hematology. Thin smears were prepared from the anticoagulated blood in the field with no delay and in the laboratory after a 4-6-hour delay, and then used to determine differential and total leukocyte counts. Manual heterophil and eosinophil counts were greater in LiHep-treated samples compared to K3EDTA samples (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in the total leukocyte concentration or differential leukocyte counts between anticoagulants based on blood smears prepared with no delay (n = 15). Marked differences were noted in relative heterophil (P < 0.05) and lymphocyte (P < 0.05) counts and total leukocyte (P < 0.05) concentrations of K3EDTA-treated samples processed after the delay (n = 7), suggesting a negative effect on lymphocyte integrity from the anticoagulant. Microscopically, lymphocytes were more intact and easily differentiated from thrombocytes in LiHep-treated samples than K3EDTA, but modest thrombocyte clumping in the LiHep samples was a concern. Either anticoagulant appears adequate for diagnostic hematology in juvenile whooping cranes based on this limited analysis, but blood smears should be prepared immediately under controlled conditions for best results.

The North American Crane Working Group provides free and open access to articles in Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop. No additional permission is required for unrestricted use, distribution, or reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work here is properly cited. Complete Proceedings are also available for download or purchase.

© 2010 North American Crane Working Group