- Email: [email protected]
Blood parameters of amazon otters (lutra longicaudis, pteronura brasiliensis) (carnivora, mustelidae)
Physiol. Vol. 99A, No. 4, pp. 513-515,
Camp. Biochem.
1991
0300-9629/91 $3.00 + 0.00 % 199 I Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain
BLOOD PARAMETERS OF AMAZON OTTERS (LUTRA LONGICAUDIS, PTERONURA BRASILIENSIS) (CARNIVORA, MUSTELIDAE) E. P. COLARES and R. C. BEST* Instituto National de Pesquisas da Amazhnia, C. Postal 478, CEP 69011, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
(Received 7 September 1990) Abstract-i.
Haematological and chemical blood parameters were determined for the Amazonian river otter and giant otter. 2. All the haematological and chemical blood values of the Amazonian otters are similar to those of the sea otter. 3. The haematocrit and total bilirubin values are greater and the red blood cells, SGOT and SGPT levels
are lower than those of the American
river otter.
INTRODUCTlON
young female, animal 03; and an adult female, animal 04). The animals were kept captive in the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, Brasil. They were fed a large variety of fresh and/or frozen fish species. No parasites were found in the fecal analyses and the animals were apparently healthy. The giant otter was immobilized with intramuscular applications of 2.1 mg/kg xylazine followed by 10.6 mg/kg ketamine. The animal resisted strongly for 20min before being anaesthetized. After a quick induction ( < 5 min), this animal was immobilized for 6 hr. The Amazonian river otters were immobilized with 1.3 mg/kg xylazine followed by 8.5 mg/kg ketamine. Animal 04 resisted for 30min before being anaesthetized. The time of induction of the Amazonian river otters was IO min and they were immobilized for up to 2 hr. The cardiac and respiratory frequencies of all four animals were measured as was the rectal temperature. All the blood samples were removed from the jugular vein using disposable syringes and needles. The blood was placed in three flasks, each one containing one kind of anticoagulant, either EDTA, heparin or potassium fluoride and also in a fourth flask without any anticoagulant. The blood samples were collected 5 min after the animals were immobilized using the anaesthetic. The biochemical and haematological analyses were carried out 2 hr after the blood collection. The techniques described by Schalm et al. (1975) were used to determine the red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCU), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC) and leukocyte differential. Laboratory kits were used to determine the glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatine, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SCOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels. The globulin concentrations were calculated by the difference between total proteins and albumin.
Information about normal blood values of haematology and blood chemistry in the otters is limited. Williams and Pulley (1983) compared the haematology and blood chemistry values of sea otter with other mustelids and diving marine mammals. Hoover et al. (1984, 1985) determined the variations of the same parameters of American river otters after surgical implantation of intra-abdominal radio telemetry devices. Freitas er al. (1982) characterized the kariotype of Lutra longicaudis and Scheil and Gunther (1984/85) carried out an electrophoretic study of the giant otters’ blood. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is considered one of the most endangered species of South America (Duplaix, 1978, 1980; IBAMA, 1989). This animal was excessively hunted in the 1960s and 1970s due to its skin, which was exported to Europe (Brack-Egg, 1978; Smith, 1981). The Amazonian river otter (Lutra longicaudis) started to be hunted when the number of giant otters declined at the end of the 1970s. In the early 198Os, the number of Amazonian river otter skins apprehended by IBAMA (Brazilian Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Institute) was greater than that of the giant otter skins (Duarte and Rebclo, 1985). According to Mason and Macdonald (1986) and IBAMA (1989), the Amazonian river otter is now an endangered species. Presently, the number of animals being killed of both species is reduced. although illegal hunting of these animals still occurs in Brazil. The present study was carried out to determine the haematological and chemical values in the blood of Amazonian otters.
MATERIAL
AND METHODS RESULTS
In September
1985 it was possible to immobilize and remove blood from a giant otter (adult male, animal 01) and three Amazonian river otters (an adult male, animal 02; a
AND DISCUSSION
The respiratory and cardiac frequencies and rectal temperature of the giant otter, soon after being immobilized, were 26 breaths/min, 120 beats/min and 4O”C, respectively. These same parameters, after one
*Deceased. 513
514
E. P. COLARES Table I. Haematologic
and R. C.
BEST
values for two species of Amazonian
P. hrusiliensis
L. 02
01
RBC ( x IO6 cells//~l) HB (g/d]) PCV (%) MCV (fl) MCHC (g,dl) MCH (pg) WBC (cell;~l) BAND (cell,‘ul) (%) Neutrophils (cell,‘fil) (Oh) Lymphocytes (cell:/~l) (“h) Monocytes (cell:pl) (%) Eosmophils (cellSpI) (Oh)
5.5 17.3 60.0 109.1 2X.8 31.5 5.200.0 0 0 3.5X8.0 69 I .24x.0 24 208.0 4 I56.0 3
hour of anaesthesia, fell to 20 breaths/min, 60 beats/min and 36 C. respectively, staying constant during the remaining 5 hr of immobilization. The mean respiratory and cardiac frequencies and rectal temperature of the three Amazonian river otters were 16 + 3 breathsjmin, 96 + 5 beats/min and 37 -t_2.C, respectively, and remained close to these values during the 2 hr of immobilization. The results showed here are the first haematologicdl and chemical data of the Amazonian Lutrinae and can be used as a basis for further research on these animals. The haematological values of the Amazonian river otters and the giant otter are shown in Table 1. The values are similar to those described for sea otters (Williams and Pulley, 1983) and are within the range of various species of marine cetaceans (MacNeill, 1975). However, they differ from those reported for one species of fresh-water cetacean, Inia geqfiensis (Ridgeway et al., 1970). The haemoglobin. leukocyte and leukocyte differential are similar to those reported for American river otters, but the number of red blood cells is lower and the haematocrit is greater (Hoover et al.. 1984, 1985). Animal 03 had a larger number of leukocytes compared to the others (Table 1). This value is similar to that found by other authors in cetaceans (MacNeil], 1975) and for other mustelids (Hoover ef ul.. 1984, 1985; Williams and Pulley, 1983). This variation could be due to the fact that the number of leukocytes decrease with increasing age, as has been reported by Cornell (1983) for the killer whale (Orci nus orca). Table 2. Clinical
chemistn
03
6.2 18.1 56.0 90.3 32.3 29.2 5.100.0 51 0
04
5.1 15 0 51.0 100.0 29.4 29.4 10.000.0 0
I
5.1 17.3 55.0 107.8 31.4 33.9 6 700.0 0
0
3.3660 66 X67.0 I? 357.0 7 459.0 9
0
6.100.0 hl 2.300.0 23 500 0 5 I _100.0 II
3.350.0 50 2.345.0 35 260.0 4 737.0 II
The chemical values of the blood of both Amazonian otters are shown in Table 2. Except for glucose, all the other chemical parameters are similar to those of the sea otter (Williams and Pulley, 1983). The concentrations of total proteins, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine and BUN in the blood of the giant otter and Amazonian river otters are within the ranges found for American river otters (Hoover et al., 1984, 1985). The total bilirubin value, however. was greater than that reported by Hoover et al. (1984, 1985), despite being similar to the values of other mammals (Lee et al., 1977). The SGOT and SGPT values of the Amazonian otters’ blood are lower than those found in both the sea otter and the American river otter (Hoover rf al.. 1984, 1985; Williams and Pulley, 1983). These authors mentioned that the elevated SGOT levels in the animals which they studied were due to capture stress and transport. In this study, similar values were found to those reported by Lee et al. (op. cit.) for polar bears and for the fur seal (Hunter and Madin, 1978). The glucose concentrations of animals 01 and 04 are very elevated compared to animals 02 and 03. The glucose concentrations of the latter two animals are similar to those reported for other otters (Hoover et al., 1984, 1985; Williams and Pulley, 1983). Geraci and Medway (1973) and Seal er al. (1972) for dolphins and deers respectively, suggested that stress could increase the blood glucose levels. If this is the case, the high glucose levels of animals 01 and 04 could be due to the stress they suffered before being anaesthetized.
values for two SLXX~~S of Amazonian
P. hrasilienri.~
Total protein (gldl) Albumin (gidl) Globulin (g:dl) BUN (mg/dl) Creatinine (mg,dl) Glucose (mg,‘dl) Bilirubin total (mg;dl) Cholesterol (mg/dl) SGOT (IU) SGPT (IIJ) Uric acid (mg;dl)
otters
longicaudis
I..
otter\
l0ngicuudi.s
01
02
03
6.6 2.6 4.0 39.2 I.3 250 0
6.8 3.2 3.6 31.6 0.9 132 0
6.6 3.4 3.2 32.5 1.0 1400
41 3 I4 243 0
248.0 16.3 18.3 27
0.5 207.0 21.2 16.4 I.9
270.0 x.7 21.7 I.3
0.5 207.0 8.7 II.6
04
Blood parameters Acknowledgements-We thank the staff of the Laboratory of the University Hospital Getulio Vargas of Manaus for their help in the blood analyses used in this study. Scott Amsell was essential in the immobilization and blood taking. Dr Aryto Amaral, Dr Adalberto Val and MSc. Fernando Rosas for their critical review and MPhil. Kesa Lehti for the translation of the manuscript. The work was supported by the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA). REFERENCES Brack-Egg A. (1978) Situation actual de las nutrias en al Peru. In: Otters: Proceeding of the Firsr Meeting of‘ the Otter Specialist Group (Edited by Duplaix N.). pp. 76-84, IUCN, Morges. Cornell L. H. (1983) Haematology and clinical chemistry values in the killer whale, Orcinus orca L. J. Wildl. Dis. 19, 259-264. Duarte J. C. S. and Rebel0 G. H. (1985) Carnivore skins held in Brazil. Trafic BaNetin 7, 16.-17. Duolaix N. (1978) Olferst Proceedinps ., of,. rhe Firs/ Meerine._ of the Otter Specialist Group, IUCN. Morges. Duplaix N. (1980) Observations on the ecology and behavior of the giant otter Pteronura hrasiliensis. in Suriname. Terre Vie, 34, 415428. Freitas T. R. 0.. Mattevi M. S. and Oliveira L. F. B. (1982) Karyotype characterization of Lontra Lurra longicaudis longicaudis (Mustelidae, Carnivora). Mammalian Chromosomes Newsletlar 23, 9 I-96. Geraci J. R. and Medway W. (1973) Simulated field blood studies in the bottle-nosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus--2. Effects of stress on some hematologic and plasma chemical parameters. J. Wild/. Dis. 9, 29-33. Hoover J. P.. Root C. R. and Zimmer M. A. (1984) Clinical evaluation of American river otters in a reintroduction study. J.A.V.M.A. 185, 1321-1326.
of Amazon
otters
515
Hoover J. P., Bahr R. J.. Nieves M. A., Doyle R. T.. Zimmer M. A. and Lauzon, S. E. (1985) Clinical evaluation and prerelease management of American river otters in the second year of a reintroduction study. J.A. V.M.A. 187, 1154-I 161. Hunter L. and Madin S. H. (1978) Clinical blood values of the northern fur seal. Callorhinus ursinus--II. Comparison of fresh versus stored frozen serum. J. Wild/. Dis. 14, 116-I 19. IBAMA (1989) Especies da fauna Brasileira ameacadas de extincao. Narureza Viva, 1, 9. Lee J., Ronald K. and Oritsland N. A. (1977) Some blood values of polar bears. J. Wild/. Managm. 41, 520-526. MacNeill A. C. (1975) Blood values for some captive cetaceans. Can. Vet. Jour. 16, 187-193. Mason C. F. and Macdonald S. M. (1986) Otters ,!?o/ogJ and Conserrarion. p. 236. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Ridgeway S H., Simpson J. G.. Patton G. S. and Gilmartin W. G. (1970) Hematologic findings in certain small cetaceans, J.A. C’.M.A. 157, 566 -572. Schalm 0. W., Jain N. C. and Carroll E. J. (1975) Veterinary, haenzatologj~. 3rd edn, pp. 15 -81. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. Scheil V. H. G. and Gunther A. (198485) Elektrophoretischer vergleich einiger erythrocyten-enzyme der otter Lutra lutra (L., 1758). Lutra canadensis (Schreber. 1776) und Pteronura hrasiliensis (Gmelin, 1788). Saugetirrkundliche mitceilungen 32, 63-66. Seal U. S., Ozoga J. J., Erickson A. W. and Verme L. J. (1972) Effects of immobilization on blood analyses of white-tailed deer. J. Wi/d. Managm. 36, 1034 1040. Smith N. J. H. (1981) Caimans. capybaras. otters, manatees and man in the Amazon. Biol. Conserr. 19, 177-187. Williams T. D. and Pulley L. T. (1983) Haematology and blood chemistry in the sea otter (Enhjdra lutriv). J. Wildl. Dis. 19, 4447.
Camp. Biochem.
1991
0300-9629/91 $3.00 + 0.00 % 199 I Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain
BLOOD PARAMETERS OF AMAZON OTTERS (LUTRA LONGICAUDIS, PTERONURA BRASILIENSIS) (CARNIVORA, MUSTELIDAE) E. P. COLARES and R. C. BEST* Instituto National de Pesquisas da Amazhnia, C. Postal 478, CEP 69011, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
(Received 7 September 1990) Abstract-i.
Haematological and chemical blood parameters were determined for the Amazonian river otter and giant otter. 2. All the haematological and chemical blood values of the Amazonian otters are similar to those of the sea otter. 3. The haematocrit and total bilirubin values are greater and the red blood cells, SGOT and SGPT levels
are lower than those of the American
river otter.
INTRODUCTlON
young female, animal 03; and an adult female, animal 04). The animals were kept captive in the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, Brasil. They were fed a large variety of fresh and/or frozen fish species. No parasites were found in the fecal analyses and the animals were apparently healthy. The giant otter was immobilized with intramuscular applications of 2.1 mg/kg xylazine followed by 10.6 mg/kg ketamine. The animal resisted strongly for 20min before being anaesthetized. After a quick induction ( < 5 min), this animal was immobilized for 6 hr. The Amazonian river otters were immobilized with 1.3 mg/kg xylazine followed by 8.5 mg/kg ketamine. Animal 04 resisted for 30min before being anaesthetized. The time of induction of the Amazonian river otters was IO min and they were immobilized for up to 2 hr. The cardiac and respiratory frequencies of all four animals were measured as was the rectal temperature. All the blood samples were removed from the jugular vein using disposable syringes and needles. The blood was placed in three flasks, each one containing one kind of anticoagulant, either EDTA, heparin or potassium fluoride and also in a fourth flask without any anticoagulant. The blood samples were collected 5 min after the animals were immobilized using the anaesthetic. The biochemical and haematological analyses were carried out 2 hr after the blood collection. The techniques described by Schalm et al. (1975) were used to determine the red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCU), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC) and leukocyte differential. Laboratory kits were used to determine the glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatine, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SCOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels. The globulin concentrations were calculated by the difference between total proteins and albumin.
Information about normal blood values of haematology and blood chemistry in the otters is limited. Williams and Pulley (1983) compared the haematology and blood chemistry values of sea otter with other mustelids and diving marine mammals. Hoover et al. (1984, 1985) determined the variations of the same parameters of American river otters after surgical implantation of intra-abdominal radio telemetry devices. Freitas er al. (1982) characterized the kariotype of Lutra longicaudis and Scheil and Gunther (1984/85) carried out an electrophoretic study of the giant otters’ blood. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is considered one of the most endangered species of South America (Duplaix, 1978, 1980; IBAMA, 1989). This animal was excessively hunted in the 1960s and 1970s due to its skin, which was exported to Europe (Brack-Egg, 1978; Smith, 1981). The Amazonian river otter (Lutra longicaudis) started to be hunted when the number of giant otters declined at the end of the 1970s. In the early 198Os, the number of Amazonian river otter skins apprehended by IBAMA (Brazilian Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Institute) was greater than that of the giant otter skins (Duarte and Rebclo, 1985). According to Mason and Macdonald (1986) and IBAMA (1989), the Amazonian river otter is now an endangered species. Presently, the number of animals being killed of both species is reduced. although illegal hunting of these animals still occurs in Brazil. The present study was carried out to determine the haematological and chemical values in the blood of Amazonian otters.
MATERIAL
AND METHODS RESULTS
In September
1985 it was possible to immobilize and remove blood from a giant otter (adult male, animal 01) and three Amazonian river otters (an adult male, animal 02; a
AND DISCUSSION
The respiratory and cardiac frequencies and rectal temperature of the giant otter, soon after being immobilized, were 26 breaths/min, 120 beats/min and 4O”C, respectively. These same parameters, after one
*Deceased. 513
514
E. P. COLARES Table I. Haematologic
and R. C.
BEST
values for two species of Amazonian
P. hrusiliensis
L. 02
01
RBC ( x IO6 cells//~l) HB (g/d]) PCV (%) MCV (fl) MCHC (g,dl) MCH (pg) WBC (cell;~l) BAND (cell,‘ul) (%) Neutrophils (cell,‘fil) (Oh) Lymphocytes (cell:/~l) (“h) Monocytes (cell:pl) (%) Eosmophils (cellSpI) (Oh)
5.5 17.3 60.0 109.1 2X.8 31.5 5.200.0 0 0 3.5X8.0 69 I .24x.0 24 208.0 4 I56.0 3
hour of anaesthesia, fell to 20 breaths/min, 60 beats/min and 36 C. respectively, staying constant during the remaining 5 hr of immobilization. The mean respiratory and cardiac frequencies and rectal temperature of the three Amazonian river otters were 16 + 3 breathsjmin, 96 + 5 beats/min and 37 -t_2.C, respectively, and remained close to these values during the 2 hr of immobilization. The results showed here are the first haematologicdl and chemical data of the Amazonian Lutrinae and can be used as a basis for further research on these animals. The haematological values of the Amazonian river otters and the giant otter are shown in Table 1. The values are similar to those described for sea otters (Williams and Pulley, 1983) and are within the range of various species of marine cetaceans (MacNeill, 1975). However, they differ from those reported for one species of fresh-water cetacean, Inia geqfiensis (Ridgeway et al., 1970). The haemoglobin. leukocyte and leukocyte differential are similar to those reported for American river otters, but the number of red blood cells is lower and the haematocrit is greater (Hoover et al.. 1984, 1985). Animal 03 had a larger number of leukocytes compared to the others (Table 1). This value is similar to that found by other authors in cetaceans (MacNeil], 1975) and for other mustelids (Hoover ef ul.. 1984, 1985; Williams and Pulley, 1983). This variation could be due to the fact that the number of leukocytes decrease with increasing age, as has been reported by Cornell (1983) for the killer whale (Orci nus orca). Table 2. Clinical
chemistn
03
6.2 18.1 56.0 90.3 32.3 29.2 5.100.0 51 0
04
5.1 15 0 51.0 100.0 29.4 29.4 10.000.0 0
I
5.1 17.3 55.0 107.8 31.4 33.9 6 700.0 0
0
3.3660 66 X67.0 I? 357.0 7 459.0 9
0
6.100.0 hl 2.300.0 23 500 0 5 I _100.0 II
3.350.0 50 2.345.0 35 260.0 4 737.0 II
The chemical values of the blood of both Amazonian otters are shown in Table 2. Except for glucose, all the other chemical parameters are similar to those of the sea otter (Williams and Pulley, 1983). The concentrations of total proteins, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine and BUN in the blood of the giant otter and Amazonian river otters are within the ranges found for American river otters (Hoover et al., 1984, 1985). The total bilirubin value, however. was greater than that reported by Hoover et al. (1984, 1985), despite being similar to the values of other mammals (Lee et al., 1977). The SGOT and SGPT values of the Amazonian otters’ blood are lower than those found in both the sea otter and the American river otter (Hoover rf al.. 1984, 1985; Williams and Pulley, 1983). These authors mentioned that the elevated SGOT levels in the animals which they studied were due to capture stress and transport. In this study, similar values were found to those reported by Lee et al. (op. cit.) for polar bears and for the fur seal (Hunter and Madin, 1978). The glucose concentrations of animals 01 and 04 are very elevated compared to animals 02 and 03. The glucose concentrations of the latter two animals are similar to those reported for other otters (Hoover et al., 1984, 1985; Williams and Pulley, 1983). Geraci and Medway (1973) and Seal er al. (1972) for dolphins and deers respectively, suggested that stress could increase the blood glucose levels. If this is the case, the high glucose levels of animals 01 and 04 could be due to the stress they suffered before being anaesthetized.
values for two SLXX~~S of Amazonian
P. hrasilienri.~
Total protein (gldl) Albumin (gidl) Globulin (g:dl) BUN (mg/dl) Creatinine (mg,dl) Glucose (mg,‘dl) Bilirubin total (mg;dl) Cholesterol (mg/dl) SGOT (IU) SGPT (IIJ) Uric acid (mg;dl)
otters
longicaudis
I..
otter\
l0ngicuudi.s
01
02
03
6.6 2.6 4.0 39.2 I.3 250 0
6.8 3.2 3.6 31.6 0.9 132 0
6.6 3.4 3.2 32.5 1.0 1400
41 3 I4 243 0
248.0 16.3 18.3 27
0.5 207.0 21.2 16.4 I.9
270.0 x.7 21.7 I.3
0.5 207.0 8.7 II.6
04
Blood parameters Acknowledgements-We thank the staff of the Laboratory of the University Hospital Getulio Vargas of Manaus for their help in the blood analyses used in this study. Scott Amsell was essential in the immobilization and blood taking. Dr Aryto Amaral, Dr Adalberto Val and MSc. Fernando Rosas for their critical review and MPhil. Kesa Lehti for the translation of the manuscript. The work was supported by the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA). REFERENCES Brack-Egg A. (1978) Situation actual de las nutrias en al Peru. In: Otters: Proceeding of the Firsr Meeting of‘ the Otter Specialist Group (Edited by Duplaix N.). pp. 76-84, IUCN, Morges. Cornell L. H. (1983) Haematology and clinical chemistry values in the killer whale, Orcinus orca L. J. Wildl. Dis. 19, 259-264. Duarte J. C. S. and Rebel0 G. H. (1985) Carnivore skins held in Brazil. Trafic BaNetin 7, 16.-17. Duolaix N. (1978) Olferst Proceedinps ., of,. rhe Firs/ Meerine._ of the Otter Specialist Group, IUCN. Morges. Duplaix N. (1980) Observations on the ecology and behavior of the giant otter Pteronura hrasiliensis. in Suriname. Terre Vie, 34, 415428. Freitas T. R. 0.. Mattevi M. S. and Oliveira L. F. B. (1982) Karyotype characterization of Lontra Lurra longicaudis longicaudis (Mustelidae, Carnivora). Mammalian Chromosomes Newsletlar 23, 9 I-96. Geraci J. R. and Medway W. (1973) Simulated field blood studies in the bottle-nosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus--2. Effects of stress on some hematologic and plasma chemical parameters. J. Wild/. Dis. 9, 29-33. Hoover J. P.. Root C. R. and Zimmer M. A. (1984) Clinical evaluation of American river otters in a reintroduction study. J.A.V.M.A. 185, 1321-1326.
of Amazon
otters
515
Hoover J. P., Bahr R. J.. Nieves M. A., Doyle R. T.. Zimmer M. A. and Lauzon, S. E. (1985) Clinical evaluation and prerelease management of American river otters in the second year of a reintroduction study. J.A. V.M.A. 187, 1154-I 161. Hunter L. and Madin S. H. (1978) Clinical blood values of the northern fur seal. Callorhinus ursinus--II. Comparison of fresh versus stored frozen serum. J. Wild/. Dis. 14, 116-I 19. IBAMA (1989) Especies da fauna Brasileira ameacadas de extincao. Narureza Viva, 1, 9. Lee J., Ronald K. and Oritsland N. A. (1977) Some blood values of polar bears. J. Wild/. Managm. 41, 520-526. MacNeill A. C. (1975) Blood values for some captive cetaceans. Can. Vet. Jour. 16, 187-193. Mason C. F. and Macdonald S. M. (1986) Otters ,!?o/ogJ and Conserrarion. p. 236. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Ridgeway S H., Simpson J. G.. Patton G. S. and Gilmartin W. G. (1970) Hematologic findings in certain small cetaceans, J.A. C’.M.A. 157, 566 -572. Schalm 0. W., Jain N. C. and Carroll E. J. (1975) Veterinary, haenzatologj~. 3rd edn, pp. 15 -81. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. Scheil V. H. G. and Gunther A. (198485) Elektrophoretischer vergleich einiger erythrocyten-enzyme der otter Lutra lutra (L., 1758). Lutra canadensis (Schreber. 1776) und Pteronura hrasiliensis (Gmelin, 1788). Saugetirrkundliche mitceilungen 32, 63-66. Seal U. S., Ozoga J. J., Erickson A. W. and Verme L. J. (1972) Effects of immobilization on blood analyses of white-tailed deer. J. Wi/d. Managm. 36, 1034 1040. Smith N. J. H. (1981) Caimans. capybaras. otters, manatees and man in the Amazon. Biol. Conserr. 19, 177-187. Williams T. D. and Pulley L. T. (1983) Haematology and blood chemistry in the sea otter (Enhjdra lutriv). J. Wildl. Dis. 19, 4447.