HAEMATOLOGY AND CLINICAL CHEMISTRY OF HAIRY-NOSED WOMBATS (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

Abstract

The report summarises an investigation into the health of wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in the field during the breeding season of a drought year. Health was assessed by morphometry, haematology and clinical chemistry and the findings were compared with those obtained for apparently healthy captaive wombats. The erythrocyte count was lower and the erythrocyte size greater in free-ranging wombats than in captaive wombats. Plasma values for potassium, urea, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate transaminase were greater in free-ranging wombats than captive wombats. Plasma values for creatine, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were lower in the free-ranging group.