Recent economic and aesthetic interest in North American bison (Bison bison) has lead to increased interstate transport of these animals. Serologic and hematologic standards for bison are needed to detect disease in transported animals as well as within herds. This paper describes variation in blood physiological parameters in bison caused by variations in diet and season. Blood was taken from six bison and analyzed for serologic and hematologic parameters. Significant variation was found in blood urea nitrogen, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, eosinophil, glucose, hemoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase, leukocyte, packed cell volume, potassium, serum globulin, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, SGPT, and sodium levels between animals receiving a high energy-high nitrogen diet and animals receiving a low energy-low nitrogen diet

Benjamin, Maxine M.

Ellis, James

Keith, Edward O.

Phillips, Robert W.

English

NSU Works

Nova Southeastern UniversityNSUWorksMarine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences10-1-1978Serologic and Hematologic Values of Bison inColoradoEdward O. KeithColorado State University - Fort CollinsJames EllisColorado State University - Fort CollinsRobert W. PhillipsColorado State University - Fort CollinsMaxine M. BenjaminColorado State University - Fort CollinsFind out more information about Nova Southeastern University and the Halmos College of Natural Sciencesand Oceanography.Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticlesPart of the Marine Biology Commons, and the Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences andMeteorology CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences at NSUWorks. It has been acceptedfor inclusion in Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contactnsuworks@nova.edu.NSUWorks CitationEdward O. Keith, James Ellis, Robert W. Phillips, and Maxine M. Benjamin. 1978. Serologic and Hematologic Values of Bison inColorado .Journal of Wildlife Diseases , (4) : 493 -500. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/680.Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14. October. 1978 493SEROLOGIC AND HEMATOLOGIC VALUES OF BISON INWEDWARD 0. KEITH and JAMES E. ELLIS, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University,Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.ROBERT W. PHILLIPS. Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Colorado State University, Fort Collins,MAXINE M. BENJAMIN, Department of Pathology, Colorado State University. Fort Collins.Abstract: Recent economic and aesthetic interest in North American bison (Bisonbison) has lead to increased interstate transport of these animals. Serologic andhematobogic standards for bison are needed to detect disease in transported animalsas well as within herds. This paper describes variation in blood physiologicalparameters in bison caused by variations in diet and season. Blood was taken from sixbison and analyzed for serologic and hematobogic parameters. Significant variationwas found in blood urea nitrogen, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, eosinophil,glucose, hemoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase, leukocyte, packed cell volume, potassium,serum globulin, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, SGP’F, and sodium levelsbetween animals receiving a high energy-high nitrogen diet and animals receiving abow energy-low nitrogen diet.INTRODUCTIONBison are becoming increasingly pop-ular for aesthetic and economic reasonscreating a need for baseline information.Transport of bison also has become morefrequent. Therefore, the need for stand-ards to evaluate hematobogic andserologic samples from these animalshas arisen. Data presented here con-tribute to determining the range of nor-mal variation in bison blood values.MATERIALS AND METHODSValues presented were taken from sixbison maintained at the Pawnee Site,field research facility of the NaturalResource Ecology Laboratory, ColoradoState University, located on the UnitedStates Department of Agriculture, Sci-ence and Education Administration -Federal Research, Central Plains Ex-perimental Range in northeasternColorado. The location, vegetation,physiography, and climate have been de-scribed by Jameson.7 The animals hadbeen used for diet selection anddigestibility studies from 1969 to 1972.12During blood sampling, the animalswere being used to investigate nitrogenmetabolism, especially urea recycling.8Samples were taken on 1 December1975, 1 March 1976, 9 June 1976, and 21October 1976. From 11 November 1975 to1 May 1976, the animals were dividedinto two groups, one of which received ahigh energy-high nitrogen diet con-sisting of crested wheatgrass hay (6%crude protein, 4030 cab/g gross energy)and a supplement (Pawnee mix: 15%crude protein, 4160 cal/g gross energy).The other group received a bow energy-bow nitrogen diet consisting solely of thecrested wheatgrass hay. Both groupswere fed ad libitum. After 1 May 1976 allanimals received approximately 11 kg ofsupplement per day, and grazed freely ona 16.2-ha native pasture (11% crude pro-This paper reports on work supported in part by National Science Foundation Grants BMS73-02027 A02,DEB73-02027 A03, and DEB73-02027 A04 to the Grassland Biome, US. International Biological Program, for“Analysis of Structure. Function, and Utilization of Grassland Ecosystems.”494 Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14. October, 1978tein). On 1 October 1976 the bison beganreceiving a different crested wheatgrasshay in addition to the pasture forage andPawnee mix which was probably similarto the hay fed previously.At the start of feeding trials, sixanimals obtained from the WichitaMountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahomawere available for blood sampling. Fourof these had rumen fistubas and two hadesophageal fistubas (Table 1). However,in September, 1976 an animal (#10) diedof unknown causes. Samples were takenfrom the remaining five animals on 21October. Necropsy of Animal 10 did notreveal any single major cause of death,although encapsulated kidneys wereimplicated.Blood was taken from the left externaljugular vein and placed in twoVacutainers,1 one containing a pre-measured amount of EDTA anti-coagulant. The blood was kept chilledduring transport to the Clinical Pathol-ogy Laboratory, Veterinary Hospital,Colorado State University, for analysis.Time from collection of blood untildelivery to the lab varied from 2 to 6 h,depending on the order of animalsampled. A Hyceb Mark 17  was used todetermine serological values, and aCoubter Counter Model FN  was usedfor total leukocyte and erythrocytecounts. Packed cell volume was deter-mined by micro-hematocrit and differen-tial counts were made from Wright-stained blood smears examined under oilimmersion using standard countingtechniques. Student’s-T tests4 were usedto detect significant differences betweenthe groups for selected parameters.Significant differences are discernible inTable 2. Values followed by the samebetter indicate significant differences inthe same row, or between diet groups forthe first two sample dates.RESULTSResults of analyses are presented inTable 2. Because the two groups of bisonwere receiving different diets during thefirst two sampling dates, averages (±1SD) for each diet group (3 animals pergroup) are presented for the 1 Decemberand 1 March sample dates. Datacollected after completion of the diettrials, when all animals were receivingthe same ration, are presented as meanvalues for all animals for the 9 June (6TABLE 1. Diet groups of bison.Group Sex* Fistuba Typet Fistuba DateGroup A - High DietBison 15Bison 10Bison 12FMFERR197116 Sept. 197512 Dec. 1975Group B - Low DietBison 1Bison 8Bison 13MFFERR1971197112 Dec. 1975CF = female; M = male.tE = esophageal; R = ruminab.Becton, Dickinson and Company, Rutherford, New Jersey.Hycel, Incorporated, Houston, Texas.Coulter Diagnostics, 740 W. 83rd Ave., Hialeah, Florida 33014, USA.Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14, October, 1978 495o N#{149} 4)C1 CO 00 CO as as ci ‘I Z’i’ , ,  #{149} dN as“ -H -H -H -H -H -H -H -H -H -H -HCC C C C’1 90 CC C C’ CC N N.0  o  5 C C1 90 0 0 101(5 - ‘ C ‘  00CO CICC042p 4,C) N4) 90 C) .0- ‘ CO 00 CO C 1(5 N ‘- C’4++ .- cii cxi ci .- cii  do as - -4) - 00-H -H +1 +00 N N CO c 00 1(5 CO CO 1(5 CO asCC CC CC CO 0 N ‘ 00 0 N CC ‘#{149} C’ CC CO LO CO NCO ‘as CCNN NN C.).00 1(5 CC 1(5 901(5 C1 C1 C C ‘-4 4 N CC ‘-4 CC 1(5 as - ‘ CO 90CC ,-400L00NC5CC0010,-4C  0,-la)L(5’--4.-40N 101(54)V as -‘- 00’’-H-H-H N N C1 10 CO CC N N C N CO CO 0 N C N C N N C CO 90 CC‘-i C 10 00 CO CC 90CC CO C CO C  CI CC C C CO 00 C C 10‘ 1(5 ‘-4 - CO CC CC CO ‘ ‘ 10 1(5  as - .-o - 0000- tbo Ca / -I.--N,0 -4- -4- .0 ON.0 ....  .4...  -4- -4-   .4-  -4-- -4- 4.. C C - C N N N ‘ as ‘ 90 10 CC N - 4 N N ‘ C  CC4211 4NCOC0C -4’-00#{149} 10 L(SN 1(’’ N +1C C 9000 CO C N C C C C 10 N 1(5 N 10 C 1(5 N C s as as c4) ‘ ‘ ‘-4 - CO 10 CC C ‘ C’S 1(5 ‘ - _00 - -1(SCO 1(590 -‘-4*4, 0..0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 4)0 b4 b4 b0 b4 bC bC b0 b0 bC bC b0 b0 _c QI. --0a#{149} #{149} be ‘  a . ‘ ) . 4 #{149}  . 0. . o’ be-pE- 496 Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14, October, 1978C)>4 ?S N10 CO CO 10 - - CC CO C1 CS as 10C ‘ N 0 - C ‘- ‘- C’4 - ‘- CN - CO -as-H +1 + +1 +1 -H‘-‘ C CC CO C 00 ‘ 1(5 ‘ ‘ C CC00 C C1 ‘ C C CO CI - C1 CC C’4- 00 ‘ - C ‘ ‘- - - - 10.0 44 NS .0N N N SCC as C CC 00 C CC 00 C 00 C 1(51(i oc d    cs .- Ci 1(5as-H +1 +1 -H +1 +1 -HC CO C C’1 C N C C 00 N 00 0090 CO CC ‘ 10 C - N N C1 1(5- N ‘ C’) 1(5 10 CC- - 10as44N 5NC),0.0 N 5.0asas CCC ‘C Nas 000 ‘ C’)10 010 CO’-4 CCC’) ‘C’S NCCC - C C’) ‘ ‘ C C C C CO C C - - C’) C N C - ‘ C’) - 10 CN - C’) C’) C’) - ‘-4 - Nas.0C’) ‘ C CO CO C N ‘ CC 1(5 N CC CO ‘ CO C CO N ‘ N CO C’) C C0500 0 CC CO 0 ‘ ‘ as C’) C C CO CO C as C’) - CC as CC ‘C C 0010 C’S ‘ - - - C CC 10 C’) -- - - - - - COSO SS N NNCC C’) N - C 10 - CC 100 CS N CX) 0 - ‘ C C as C’) CO C’) ‘ CC C ‘ 00 as 10 - C - - C ‘ C’) CO N CO 10 C’)  C’) - - CC 10 - - - CC C’) C’) C’) -N    +1 +1 +1 +1 +1  +1+1 +1 -H-H- - CO N CO N N CC CC C’) CS 00 C’) as as C N N C C’) N CO 00 N C cxir- ..;cxi C-’ xi cii - ciid 1(5 C#{225}C CS C’) N ‘ ‘ - as C’) ‘ C’S ‘-4 C’) CS C- - - 4 - C’) *0..0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .04,0 be‘L5 I-         -  -ao aC.) -- - -0  4)C’) 4) 4..  4.4.. 4) 4)5 0 0.  “‘  a,-   4)’ ‘- - i’0.E- -.S -- - 0 n’ - -.  ‘ --  -.  a , #{149}- r44.  -. ‘-. -.Obe -p E2 Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14, October, 1978 497bison) and 21 October (5 bison) sampledates. If the December and March data are; ; pooled to give a total of six samples pergroup for an assessment of “winter”-H condition, the high diet group had;  significantly higher average BUN levels- (P < 0.05) and average cholesterol levels(P < 0.01) but had significantly lowerpacked cell volumes (hematocrit) (P <0.01) than the bow diet group.In Table 3 the data for the 9 June ando 21 October samples are compared to data- C presented by Mehrer,’#{176} who examined163 bison from five wildlife refuges, CO across the United States, and to those ofC Marber,9 who examined 47 adult bison forhematobogicab values and 25 for bloodchemistry values, all in Kansas. ‘ DISCUSSIONCC CC ‘ COd d Payne et al.” suggest three majorsources of variation in blood physiolog-icab parameters. They are: 1) season, 2). 0 10 CC . - genetics, and 3) production level for lac-C’) CO ‘ tation. Other factors, he concedes, may . have an effect; these include age, sex, andstage in lactation. However, Payne wasdealing with uniformly fed, well-houseddairy cattle. Other authors2’6”3”4 haveC) 2 stressed that many environmental fac-tors can cause variation in blood.E a chemistry values. Drevemo et al.3 list+1 .0 other factors affecting blood physiobogi-N CO C’) -  cab parameters. Among them are stressCCS COCO .0., . . -- . - disease, excitement, and circadian and ‘ diurnal rhythms. Using data from aS s variety of sources, Bailey’ compareda various blood chemistry values for mule.0 .0 : : - deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-.  .  tailed deer (0. virginianus) on varying4-’ a planes of nutrition. Differences in blood.0 chemistry values apparently caused bynutrition were evident. Torreb et al.’6 dis-‘ S.C ,0 cussed using blood urea nitrogen as anC) C’)CC10 . . - E E index to the nutntional status of sheep.Ci .  BUN was correlated to nitrogen intake(r  .,  = 0.99) and weight gain (r = 0.95).P4  5” - be be s Marler9 compared blood values for0  . .  young (less than 2 years old) vs. old498 Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14. October, 1978- ‘ C C  C’) CO‘-odCciiCS C CC CS C’S C4) ‘ - CO CC C’)10 Lt) C C C C 0 CC 0 - C C  CO C’)CC - - - -4-’ CC’)C CO C C C C 0 CC 0 C’S C C CC CO C00NCCCCSC’C’iIt) - CC ‘ ‘ - CS  CS -asCC4.;4)4-’.0 C’) CO C CC CS CS C’) 10 CO - CC CO CS CC C’)4)  .2 -aS‘‘ CC C C’) CC CC C - CC CC ‘‘ It) C - CC-i, 4) It) - C ‘ ‘ CC - C -S CC04)a0.0 CCC ‘ C CC CO CC - CC C’) C’) CC CC C C N04. CO - CC C’) - C’) CO C CC C CC ‘ - - CCS C’)a CCS a CS CCNCOC’)CCL0CCCCNCCCC’’CO0a CCCCCOCN’CCCCCCCN&0CC’)COt0CO N 10 -zCCaS0ao 4)a . a. 4)S0.   SE   be-0.0  .‘-a be -E0 a  o. #{149} .a E 0. (.0 S Z  E- 0 cr. P 00Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14, October, 1978 499bison, and found significant differencesin leukocyte numbers, neutrophib percen-tage, lymphocyte percentage, andcholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, andSGOT levels. Mehrer’#{176}also found signifi-cant differences between age groups ofmale bison, but not of female bison.Because our animals were all about thesame age, differences due to age were notdistinguishable.Our major interest was in variation ofblood values caused by diet. Animalsreceiving a low protein diet in Decemberhad low serum globulin levels, whileanimals receiving an adequate diet hadhigh globulin values. Animals receivinga high protein-high energy diet had highglucose, potassium, and cholesterolbevels. BUN for both groups in Decemberwas slightly bower than later values, aswere sodium, LDH, and SGPT. In Marchthe groups were not as different as theywere in December, the low diet grouphaving more normal total protein andserum globulin levels, but lowercholesterol levels and the high diet grouphaving a lower blood glucose averageand a lower cholesterol level. The lowBUN of the low diet group in winter maybe caused by that group’s low proteinintake. ‘5LITERATURE CITEDThe bow-diet group had significantlyhigher SGOT bevels in March than inJune, indicating that these animals wereunder some stress during this period.SGOT values for the high diet group inMarch, and for all animals in Decemberand October were comparable to thoseobtained by Marber.9 Significantly highvalues could indicate cell necrosis andmyopathy.5 Low LDH bevels indicatethat the animals were under little stressat the time of sampling,’4 while higherlevels have little meaning without isoen-zyme determinations to identify thesource.A sidelight not evident from the datapresented is that bison with esophagealfistulas had higher leukocytic countsthan did other animals in the Marchsamples. This perhaps is a reflection ofstress caused by the fistula; however,counts were not different in any othersample period. SGOT levels in es-ophageabby fistulated animals were notdifferent in the March sample, indicatinglittle cell necrosis in these animals. Ex-cept for this single aberration no signifi-cant differences were discerniblebetween animals with different fistulas,although we were unable to sample non-fistulated animals to examine the effectsof fistulation itself.1. BAILEY, J.A. 1969. Rumino-reticubar contents and blood constituents asparameters of nutritional condition in North American deer. In: RecentAdvances in Wildlife Nutrition: Papers from a Graduate Student Seminar inWildlife Biology, JA. Bailey and J.G. Nagy(Eds.)pp. 94-117. Colorado StateUniv., Fort Collins, Colorado.2. DIETERICH, R.A. and JR. LUICK. 1971. Reindeer in biomedical research. Lab.Anim. Sci. 21: 817-824.3. DREVEMO, S., J.G. GROOTENHUIS and L KARSTAD. 1974. Bloodparameters of wild ruminants in Kenya. J. Wibdl. Dis. 10: 327-334.4. EDWARDS, A.L. 1969. Statistical Analysis. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.,New York. 244 pp.5. FRANZMAN, A.W. 1971. Comparative physiologic values in captive and wildbighorn sheep. J. Wildi. Dis. 7: 105-108.6. . 1972. Environmental sources of variation of bighorn sheep physiologicvalues. J. Wildl. Manage. 36: 924-932.500 Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 14. October. 19787. JAMESON, DA. 1969. General description of the Pawnee Site. US/IBPGrassland Biome Tech. Rep. No. 1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins,Colorado. 162 pp.8. KEITH, E.O. and J.E. ELLIS. 1976. Urea recycling in bison. Paper presented atthe 52nd annual meeting of the Southwestern and Rocky MountainDivision, AAA.S, Tucson. Abs. pubb. in J. Ariz. Acad. Sd. 11: 22.9. MARLER, R.J. 1975. Some hematobogic and blood chemistry values in two herdsof American bison in Kansas. J. Wildl. Die. 11: 97-100.10. MEHRER, C.F. 1976. Some hematobogic values in bison from five areas of theUnited States. J. Wildb. Dis. 12: 7-13.11. PAYNE, J.M., G.J. ROWLANDS, R MANSTON, S.M. DEW and W.H.PARKER. 1974. A statistical appraisal of the results of metabolic profile teston 191 herds in the BVA/ADAS joint exercise in animal health andproductivity. Br. Vet. J. 130: 34-44.12. PEDEN, D.G. 1972. The trophic relations of Bison bison to the shortgrass prairie.Ph.D. thesis. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. 134 pp.13. PEDERSEN, RJ. and A.A. PEDERSEN. 1975. Blood chemistry and hematologyof elk. J. Wild!. Manage. 39: 617-620.14. SEARCY, RL 1969. DiagnosticBiochemistry. McGraw-Hill BookCo., Inc., NewYork. 660 pp.15. THORNE, T.P. 1970. Physiologic values in wild bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensiscanadensis) at capture, after handling, and after captivity. J. Am. vet. med.Ass. 157: 647-650.16. TORREL, D.T., I.D. HUME and W.C. WEIR. 1974. Factors affecting blood ureanitrogen and its use as an index to the nutritional status of sheep. J. Anim.So. 39: 435-440.Received for publication 14 November 1977

Serologic and Hematologic Values of Bison in Colorado

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Serologic and Hematologic Values of Bison in Colorado

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