Haematological parameters of three species of wild caught microchiropteran bats, Miniopterus schreibersii, Taphozous melanopogon and Hipposideros lankadiva in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study,for the first time in South Asia, examines haematological parameters of thre species of wild caught Sri Lankan microchiropteran bats, belonging to three different families having different global zoogeographical distributions; Miniopterus schreibersii (Vespertilionidae: n=12), Taphozous melanopogon (Emballonuridae; n=19) and Hipposideros lankadiva (Hipposiderosidae; n=15). Blood samples were obtained from the median vein and the total white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin content(Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCHC) were determined using standard haematological techniques. lnterspecies differences existed in some of the parameters monitored, i.e. PCV, MCV, WBC and RBC counts. % of neutrophils and lymphocytes. On the other hand, a gender discrepancy was recorded for T.melanopgon with respect to neutrophils and lymphocytes, and for M. schreibersii with respect to the total WBC count. The highest WBC count and the lowest PCV and MCV were found in M. schreibersii. T.melanopgon registered the highest percentage of lymphocytes and the lowest percentage of neutrophils, while H. lankadiva possessed the highest MCV. Haematological values were recorded also for a single lactating T.melanopogon.