Effect of seasonal variations on some hematological and plasma biochemical parameters in Egyptian male and female baladi red rabbits [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Forty sexually mature male and female Baladi red rabbits were used to study the effect of seasonal variations on some haematological and plasma biochemical parameters throughout one year. Results indicated that white blood cells (WBC’s),mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly (P<0.01) affected by variation of seasonal temperature and insignificantly affected by sex. Meanwhile, red blood cells (RBC’s), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (P<0.01) and blood hemoglobin (Hb) were affected (P<0.05) by seasonal temperature and sex. In male rabbits, the highest values of RBC’s, MCHC and Hb were found in winter, while the lowest values of RBC’s, PCV and Hb were recorded in summer. In females, the highest values of MCHC and Hb were found in winter and the lowest values were recorded in autumn. The highest values of WBC’s and MCH were found in summer and the lowest values were recorded in spring and autumn. Season showed significant effects on RBC, PCV, Hb, WBC, MCH, MCHC, MCV. While sex effect was significant on RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV only. Analysis of plasma biochemical parameters showed that season of the year had significant (P<0.01) effects on total protein, globulin, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, total lipids, aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose (P<0.01) and creatinine (P<0.05). Only globulin (P<0.05) and A/G ratio (P<0.01) were affected by sex. Plasma testosterone (P<0.01) and estradiol (P<0.05) were affected by season temperature variation. The highest values were recorded in winter and the lowest values were recorded in spring for both testosterone and estradiol.

Summary in Arabic.

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