By Casmir Onwuaso Igbokwe, Onyinyechukwu Ada Agina, Chidozie Nwabuisi Okoye & Remigus Ibe Onoja
The study evaluated the haematological and serum biochemistry profile of juvenile wild African giant rat
and determined the influence of sex on the haematological and serum biochemistry parameters. These
evaluations were carried out on 18 juvenile wild African giant rats of either sex, in Nsukka, southeastern
Nigeria, within the months of March–May 2014. Standard procedures were carried out in all the
haematological and serum biochemical determinations. The overall mean with the minimum and
maximum values for some of the hemato-biochemical parameters were as follows: packed cell volume
– 34.87 ± 0.76 % (31.00 – 39.00); red blood cell count – 9.33 ± 0.66 x 106/μl (6.26 – 13.40); hemoglobin
concentration – 10.27 ± 0.22 g/dl (9.26 – 12.63); total leukocyte count - 7.74 ± 0.14 x 103/μl (7.00 –
9.05); aspartate aminotransferase – 76.15 ± 6.68 IU/L (54.58 – 128.54); alanine aminotransferase – 18.09
± 1.61 IU/L(11.91 – 25.49); alkaline phosphatase – 102.08 ± 2.43 IU/L (83.18 – 111.82); total proteins –
4.70 ± 0.10 g/dl (4.03 – 5.18). The females had significantly higher (p < .05) serum ALT, blood urea
nitrogen and albumin values than males. The present study has presented preliminary information on
the range of haematological and serum biochemistry parameters which may be useful to biomedical
researchers and veterinary clinicians.