Dynamics of health of wild capybaras: Biochemical and physiologic parameters

EBERHARDT, A. T.; RUIZ, M. F.; BELDOMENICO, P.M.; RACCA, A.

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015

0025-1461

Assessments of generic indices of health in wildlife populations increase our knowledge about the natural history of animal species and provide useful information for eco-epidemiological studies. However, the hematology and biochemical parameters of wildlife have so far been little explored. The goal of this study was to shed new light on the physiological dynamics of wild capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). To this aim, we evaluated immuno-physiological parameters (blood cell counts, serum protein fractions and spleen mass) and assessed their variability with sex, body condition, pregnancy status and season. Samples (n=67) were obtained from a managed population of free-ranging capybaras from Esteros del Iberá (Northeastern Argentina). The main findings reported here were: i) Kurloff cells (KC) were found in peripheral blood of both sexes, but their levels were higher in females; ii) KC, Eosinophil (E) and Basophil (B) counts were positively associated with body condition; iii) pregnant females had different values of KC, B and spleen mass than non-pregnant females; iv) albumin and KC (in females) and E and Neutrophil (N) counts (in males) showed a seasonal pattern; and v) protein fractions of capybaras are reported for the first time. Life history traits such as pregnancy, seasonal processes, nutritional status, are reflected in some of the immuno-physiological parameters evaluated here.