Assessment of the effects of different concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on erythrocytic indices of Nigerian White Fulani cattle and West African Dwarf goat.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of varying concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on blood samples from White Fulani breed of cattle and West African Dwarf goat from Nigeria. Sample sizes of 20 animals were used for both species. Different concentrations of EDTA (2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/ml) were used. The packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of blood samples collected from White Fulani breed of cattle and West African Dwarf goat into bottles containing 16 mg/ml of EDTA were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those samples collected from the same animals into bottle containing 2 mg/ml (control). Similarly, the PCV, RBC and Hb values of the West African Dwarf goats in bottles containing 8 mg/ml of EDTA were significantly lower than those of the samples in the control (2 mg/ml). This study has shown that high concentration of EDTA as an anticoagulant can lead to a false erythrocytic index especially the PCV. In collecting blood samples for evaluation of haematological parameters, therefore, the blood volume/anticoagulant ratio must be strictly adhered to prevent error in the evaluated parameters in cattle and goats. Taken together, there is tendency for haemolytic anaemia to occur in blood sampled at higher concentration of anticoagulants in West African Dwarf goat than in White Fulani breed of cattle.