Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishe ry Sciences __ _____________ ______ ____ __ _ ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 1 ( 2 ), 9 - 11 , March (201 3 ) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary & Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association 9 Short Communication Comparative Hematology of Captive Mugger Crocodiles ( Crocodylus palustris ) Rajesh N.V. 1 , Jayathangaraj M.G. 1 , Sridhar R. 1 , Raman M. 2 and Muthuramalingam T. 3 1 Department of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai - 600007, Tamilnadu, INDIA 2 Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai - 600007, Tamilnadu, INDIA 3 Department of Livestock Production and Management, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai - 600007, Tamilnadu, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in Received 28 th February 201 3 , revised 201 3 , accepted 201 3 Abstract Hematological analysis was conducted on blood samples collected from mugger crocodiles (n =28) ( Crocodylus palustris ) using Supra - occipital plexus technique and/or Cardiocentesis technique. The hematological analysis revealed a mean value of 22.75  1.16 (%) for PCV, 7.21  0.39 (g/dl) for Hb, 0.85  0.07 (  10 6 / Cmm) for RBC and 10.14  0.48 (  10 3 / Cmm) for WBC. Similarly, the overall mean values for ESR, heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, thrombocytes and clotting time were also documented. No blood parasites were recorded in mugger crocodiles. Keywords: Blood parasites, hematology, leucocytes, mugger crocodiles Introduction The determination of hematological values is useful for understanding the state of animal health. The normal blood values in different domestic and pet animals are adequately available 1 . However the information on these values is very limit ed in reptilian species maintained in tropical region 2, 3 and not sufficient to establish the relation of age and sex with general health of these animals. The main objective of this study is to have a baseline data to provide basic information on normal h ematological values of mugger crocodiles and for identifying abnormalities in blood parameters in hunch - backed crocodiles as a result of metabolic bone disorder kept under captivity in tropical region. This report will be useful to develop and evaluate hea lth profiles of mugger crocodiles under various ecological conditions. Material and Methods The study was carried out during 2006 - 2007 (November 2006 to January 2007). Blood samples were collected from twenty - eight apparently healthy crocodiles (13 Nos. f rom Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, 7 Nos. from Guindy Snake Park and 8 Nos. from Amaravathy Crocodile farm), after careful physical restraint. The blood samples were collected using a 10ml disposable syringe and 16 gauge disposable hypodermic need le from the supra - occipital sinus and/or by cardiocentesis as per the method described by Mader 4 . Simultaneously blood smears were taken to rule out blood parasites and to estimate differential leukocyte count. The statistical analysis of data was carried out using non - paired t - test, as per the standard procedures given by Snedecor and Cochran 5 Results and Discussion Out of thirty mugger crocodiles from which blood samples were obtained, Cardiocentesis was found to be more successful in 77% of the cases (n =23) when compared to blood collection technique using the supra - occipital plexus technique. The mean S.E. values of hematological parameters comprising PCV, Hb, ESR, RBC, WBC, heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, thrombocytes, cl otting time, MCV, MCH and MCHC were furnished for both juvenile and adult mugger crocodiles in t able 1. Highly significant decrease (p 0.01) was observed with basophils and eosinophils of adult mugger crocodiles when compared to juveniles and similarly, h ighly significant increase (p0.01) was observed with thrombocytes in adult crocodiles. Similarly, in Table 2, mean S.E. values of hematological profile are presented for male and female mugger crocodiles. Highly significant decrease (p0.01) was obser ved with total WBC counts and heterophils in case of female mugger crocodiles, when compared to the males. Highly significant increase (p0.01) was noticed in thrombocytes of female crocodiles when compared to the males. Similarly, significant increase (p 0.05) was noticed with clotting time in case of females. The mean S.E values in both juvenile and adult crocodiles revealed highly significant variations in differential leukocyte count involving eosinophils, basophils and thrombocytes ( t able 1). The highly significant reduction in adult crocodiles with regard to basophils was in agreement with the findings, reported by Brian and Whitaker 6 , when compared to the value in juveniles. The highly significant reduction of eosinophils incase of adult crocodi les under study ( t able 1) might be attributed to probable reduction in the allergic causes related with adult Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary a nd Fishery Sciences ___ _ _ _______________________________ ____ ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 1 ( 2 ), 9 - 11 , March (201 3 ) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary & Fishery Sci . International Science Congress Association 10 crocodiles, treatments adapted etc. The finding of highly significant increase in thrombocytes of adult crocodiles ( t able 1) was in accordance wit h the findings reported by Brian and Whitaker 6 and the increased mean S.E values of thrombocytes in female crocodiles might be attributed to metabolic variations, clotting factors, inclusion of juveniles also in this group etc. Highly significant reduct ion in total WBC count and heterophils of female crocodiles, when compared to that of male crocodiles ( t able 2) was in agreement with the report furnished by Brian and Whitaker 6 who detailed various hematological and biochemical profiles in crocodiles. Thi s reduction might be attributed to the compromising levels of immunity, hormonal status, and different levels of antigenic stimulation within populations by various etiologies. Highly significant increase in mean values of thrombocytes in female crocodiles might be attributed to the metabolic demands for strengthened hemostatic mechanism in females. Role of thrombocytes in hemostasis was detailed by Coles 7 . Various overlapping metabolic factors might be attributed to the significant variations in clotting t ime between male and female crocodiles. Table - 1 Mean SE v alues f or Hematology i n Mugger Crocodiles (Age - Comparison) Parameters JUVENILE (n=8) ADULT (n=20) t - Value P - Value Significance PCV (%) 21.25 2.32 23.35 1.35 0.81 0.42 NS Hb (g/dl) 6.45 0.7 1 7.51 0.45 1.25 0.22 NS ESR (mm/hr) 4.04 0.10 4.06 0.05 0.17 0.87 NS RBC (xl0 6 /Cmm) 0.94 0.20 0.81 0.06 0.86 0.40 NS WBC (x l0 3 /Cmm) 11.48 0.87 9.60 0.55 1.82 0.08 NS Heterophils (x10 3 /  l) 5.88 0.61 4.54 0.38 1.87 0.07 NS Lymphocytes (x10 3 /  l) 2.35 0.17 2.49 0.12 0.65 0.52 NS Monocytes (x10 3 /  l) 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.01 1.57 0.13 NS Basophils (x10 3 /  l) 0.11 0.04 0.01 0.01 3.81 0.00 ** Eosinophils (x10 3 /  l) 0.11 0.04 0.01 0.01 3.81 0.00 ** Thrombocytes (x10 3 /  l) 20.82 0.17 22.48 0.20 4.84 0.00 ** Clotting Time (min) 9.63 0.75 9.50 0.45 0.15 0.89 NS MCV (fl) 289.33 44.41 306.87 17.19 0.45 0.65 NS MCH (pg) 86.09 10.60 98.06 5.38 0.11 0.28 NS MCHC (%) 30.63 1.18 32.08 0.42 1.46 0.16 NS NS - not significant; ** hi ghly significant - p.01; data are presented as mean standard error Table - 2 Mean SE values f or Hematology i n Mugger Crocodiles (Sex - Comparison) Parameters MALE (n=13) FEMALE (n=15) t - Value P - Value Significance PCV (%) 24.54 1.33 21.20 1.78 1.47 0 .15 NS Hb (g/dl) 7.76 0.47 6.73 0.58 1.36 0.19 NS ESR (mm/hr) 4.13 0.08 3.98 0.05 1.71 0.10 NS RBC (x l0 6 /Cmm) 0.92 0.09 0.72 0.07 1.80 0.08 NS WBC (xl0 3 /Cmm) 11.59 0.74 8.87 0.43 3.26 0.00 ** Heterophils (x10 3 /  l) 5.98 0.52 3.99 0.29 3.50 0.00 ** Lymphocytes (x10 3 /  l) 2.55 0.18 2.42 0.12 0.63 0.53 NS Monocytes (x10 3 /  l) 0.02 0.01 0.41 0.40 0.91 0.37 NS Basophils (x10 3 /  l) 0.62 0.61 0.42 0.40 0.28 0.78 NS Eosinophils (x10 3 /  l) 0.95 0.92 0.57 0.53 0.36 0.72 NS Thrombocyte s (x10 3 /  l) 21.39 0.17 22.55 0.29 3.28 0.00 ** Clotting Time (min) 8.69 0.59 10.27 0.42 2.21 0.04 * MCV (fl) 290.16 25.71 307.86 24.32 0.50 0.62 NS MCH (pg) 90.53 6.88 98.23 7.02 0.78 0.44 NS MCHC (%) 31.56 0.57 31.79 0.70 0.25 0.80 NS NS - not significant; * significant - p0.05; ** highly significant - p.01; data are presented as mean standard error Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary a nd Fishery Sciences ___ _ _ _______________________________ ____ ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 1 ( 2 ), 9 - 11 , March (201 3 ) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary & Fishery Sci . International Science Congress Association 11 Conclusion This is a preliminary study to evaluate health profiles of mugger crocodiles under various ecological conditions . The purpose of the study was to attain the baseline data and to study the blood parameters under captivity in tropical region. This study will further help to evaluate health of profiles of mugger crocodiles under various ecological conditions in India . Acknowledge ment The authors thank the authorities of Arignar Anna Zoological, Guindy Snake Park, Amaravathy Crocodile farm for continuous support and kind cooperation in carrying this research work. References 1. Schalm O.W. , Jain N.C. and Caroll E.J., Veterinary hemat ology 3 rd edn. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia (1975) 2. Wallach J.D. and Boever W.J., Diseases of Exotic animals medical and surgical management, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia (1983) 3. Marcus L.C., Veterinary Biology and Medicine of Captive Amphibians and Reptiles, Lea and Febiger, London, 114 (1981) 4. Mader D.R., Reptile Medicine and Surgery, W.B. Saunders Company, London, 185 - 203 (1996) 5. Snedecor G.W. and Cochran W.G., Statistical method oxford and LBH publishing company, Calcutta (1967) 6. Brian A.S. and Whit aker N., Hematology and Biochemistry of captive mugger crocodiles ( Crocodylus palustris ), J. Zoo Wild Med., 31(3) , 339 - 347 (2000) 7. Coles E.H., Veterinary clinical pathology, W.B. Saunders Company , Philadelphia, (1980)