Blood cell count analyses and erythrocyte morphometry in New Zealand white rabbits

The total and differential leukocyte count, erythrocyte and trombocyte count, the hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red cell distribution width in male and female New Zealand white rabbits were studied. Furthermore, the basic red blood cell morphometric characteristics were analyzed. The complete blood count values were in the reference intervals for this rabbit breed. Comparing the results regarding the gender, significantly higher hemoglobin concentrations were detected in female rabbits (134.86 vs. 127.5 g/L), whereas in males the anisocytosis was more prominent (RDW 16.09 vs. 15.53). The results of mathematical analysis in morphometry of erythrocytes revealed the statistically different parameters in males and females. Erythrocytes of females had larger area (30.81 vs. 27.6  m2), greater maximal (3.54 vs. 3.34  m) and minimal radius (2.61 vs. 2.47  m), greater convex area (31.95 vs. 29.03  m2) and higher length (6.73 vs. 6.33  m) and cell elongation factor (1.14 vs. 1.10) than the erythrocytes of males. Though the average cell volume was not significantly different, morphometry data showed that the erythrocytes in males were smaller and with a lesser prominence than females', which is congruent with higher RDW and lower hemoglobin concentration in the male rabbits’ blood, and presumably the higher presence of microcytes in blood of male rabbits. In conclusion, the erythrocyte morphometry may provide valuable data about the changes in the erythrocyte morphology and could implement the results obtained by the standard hematology methods.