Blood coagulation parameters in fallow deer (Dama dama)

Abstract

There are frequent reports from around the world of wild animals being poisoned with anticoagulants. Granulated baits can result in primary or secondary poisoning of non-target animals. Moreover, there are several diseases including infections that influence haemostasis in wild animals. The present study focused on fallow deer (Dama dama) for which insufficient data on physiological values of coagulation parameters are available. Six parameters of blood coagulation were established in clinically normal fallow deer from a game enclosure in North Moravia (Czech Republic). The fibrinogen content of 1.94 g/l is in agreement with the results obtained by other authors. Factor VIII and IX concentrations amounted to 198.42% and 169.91% of human concentration of these parameters in blood. These have never before been measured for fallow deer, but most animal species have concentrations of these factors higher than humans. Prothrombin time (PT), average activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT) were assessed as 20.99 s, 33.76 s, and 24.78 s, respectively. Prothrombin time assessed in the present study was longer compared to available data, while APTT is in agreement with the previous data. Thrombin time value is a new piece of information and is comparable with TT values obtained in other ruminants. The possible explanation for the prolonged PT may be the stress associated with yarding and handling the animals which is reported to cause haemorrhages or changes in haemostatic parameters in deer. Interestingly, males had significantly longer clotting times compared to females.