HEMATOLOGY, RED-CELL ENZYMES, AND RED-CELL METABOLIC INTERMEDIATES OF20 WILD SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS (MIROUNGA-LEONINA) FROM MACQUARIE-ISLAND

Blood was collected for haematological, red cell enzyme and red cell m etabolic intermediate studies from 20 Southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina. Mean haematological values were: haemoglobin (Hb) 22.4 +/- 1 .4 g/dl, packed cell volume (PCV) 54.2 +/- 3.8%, mean cell volume (MCV ) 213.0 +/- 5.0 fl and red cell count (RCC) 2.5 x 10(12)/l. Red cell m orphology was unremarkable. Most of the red cell enzymes showed low ac tivity in comparison with human red cells. Haemoglobin electrophoresis showed a typical pinniped pattern, i.e. two major components. Total l eucocyte counts, platelet counts, and coagulation studies were within expected mammalian limits. Eosinophil counts varied from 0.5 x 10(9)/l to 7.7 x 10(9)/l (5%-49%), and there was a very wide variation in ery throcyte sedimentation rates, from 3 to 60 mm/h.