Basic haematological values in antelopes--IV. A comparison and concluding remarks.

Comparison of mean erythrocyte counts, mean haematocrit values, mean haemoglobin content and mean corpuscular volume of the red cell is presented for 21 species of antelopes (four species being excluded because of the small number of animals investigated). A direct relationship of haematocrit values and haemoglobin content and an inverse relationship of red cell counts and mean corpuscular volume of the erythrocytes were noted. The significance of an increased total surface area for oxygen exchange is discussed and values obtained in the red blood picture are compared with those of domesticated animals (cattle, goat and sheep) taken from the literature. Mean leukocyte counts were found to be in the human range with the exception of two species, but significantly lower than in domesticated artiodactylids. Problems in assessing the general health, the age, the effect of diet and of environment in captivity are discussed. Problems of methodology, especially of blood sampling, are given comparing results in manually restrained and in sedated animals.