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Vol. 45 No. 1, 2006
Hematological Profiles of the Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus)
Geng-Ruei Chang1,*, Frank Chiahung Mao1, Chieh-Chung Yang2, and Fang-Tse Chan2
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo-Kuang Road, Taichung, Taiwan 402
2Endemic Species Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, 1 Ming-Sheng E. Road, Chichi, Nantou, Taiwan 552
Geng-Ruei Chang, Frank Chiahung Mao, Chieh-Chung Yang, and Fang-Tse Chan (2006) Seasonal
changes and sex differences in hematological values of 5 adult Formosan
black bears, kept at the Low Altitude Experimental Station, Taichung
County were evaluated from Apr. 2000 to Aug. 2003. Total erythrocyte
counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume were
statistically higher in autumn-winter than in spring-summer but did not
differ between sexes. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin was significantly
higher in males than females but did not differ between seasons. Female
total leucocyte counts and lymphocyte were statistically higher in
spring-summer than autumn-winter, while monocytes showed the opposite
response. This indicates that the innate immunological defense
decreased with decreasing temperature. The other leucocyte differential
count parameters, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and total
platelet count, did not differ among seasons or between sexes. These
results suggested that from autumn to winter, erythrocytes are replaced
by larger, more-numerous cells that increase oxygen transport, required
for producing more energy. Baseline parameters established in this
study will help evaluate diagnostic medicines that can be applied as
guidelines for future management and preservation of Formosan black
bears in the field.
Key words: Formosan black bear, Hematological profile, Seasonality, Sexes.
*Correspondence: Tel and Fax: 886-4-22206317. E-mail: vemaric@mail.vm.nchu.edu.tw
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