Effect of the method of capture on the haematology and blood chemistry of red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Haematological and plasma biochemical constituents can be affected during c apture and handling operations in wildlife. The present study compares the blood constituents of 40 red deer (Cervus elaphus) captured using two diffe rent methods: 20 were captured by physical means, using long nets and box t raps, and 20 by chemical means, using a mixture of xylazine and ketamine. S ignificant differences were found in the haemogram: red blood cell count, p acked cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, and segmented neutrophil, lym phocyte, monocyte and total leukocyte counts were higher in animals capture d by physical means. Conversely, the eosinophil count was higher in deer ca ptured using anaesthetic. The plasma activity of alanine amino transferase, and the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, alpha-2 glo bulins, total proteins, sodium and chloride, were significantly higher in t he group captured by physical means. With the exception of the eosinophil c ount, all the blood constituents which presented higher values were in the group of physically captured deer, and thus it is necessary to take into ac count the method of capture when interpretation or establishment of referen ce values is performed.