HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY VALUES FOR FREE-RANGING GOLDEN CROWNEDSIFAKA (PROPITHECUS-TATTERSALLI)

Thirty-four free-ranging golden crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersall i) inhabiting three forest sites in northeastern Madagascar were immob ilized for a collaborative ecologic, physiologic, and behavioral study . Physiologic reference values have not been determined for this recen tly described species. Blood samples taken opportunistically were eval uated for hematologic and serum chemistry values and for hemoparasites . Other than elevated aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphok inase levels, blood values were within reference ranges published for other prosimian primates. Evidence of circulating microfilariae was fo und in 59% of individuals sampled using the Knott's centrifugation tec hnique. Adults had a significantly higher prevalence of microfilariasi s than did juveniles (P < 0.001). No significant differences (P > 0.05 ) in total white blood cell count, percentage of eosinophils, or level s of alanine aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase were found betwe en individuals positive and negative for circulating microfilariae. No malarial parasites were observed on examination of thin blood smears. No enteric parasites were identified on fecal zinc sulfate flotation or on examination of direct fecal smears. External ear mites were obse rved in 48% of the sifaka examined. There was no evidence of external ear pathology.