HEMATOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL SUMMARY STATISTICS IN AQUARIUM-HOUSED SPOTTED EAGLE RAYS (AETOBATUS NARINARI)

Abstract During this retrospective study, 18 plasma blood chemistry and 17 complete blood count (CBC) samples were analyzed from clinically healthy spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) at Georgia Aquarium in order to generate hematological ranges for complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical profiles. Summary statistics were generated according to the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines for the determination of reference intervals in veterinary species.4 The mean packed cell volume (PCV) was 28.09% with a range of 23–35%. Mean total solids were 5.72 g/dl with a range of 5–7.0 g/dl. Lymphocytes were the dominant leukocyte observed on differential (67.35%), followed by fine eosinophilic granulocytes (FEGs) (15.41%), coarse eosinophilic granulocytes (CEGs) (10.24%), monocytes (1.88%), and basophils (1.24%). Chemistry samples were analyzed at two diagnostic laboratories, Michigan State University (MSU) and University of Miami (UMiami), and the results were compared. Both labs hav...