Haematological and serum biochemical reference interval for free-ranging northern bettongs (Bettongia tropica) in far north Queensland.

Abstract

Background: The northern bettong, Bettongia tropica, is an endangered potoroid recognised as a specialist consumer of underground ectomycorrhizal fungi important to wet sclerophyll forest at the interface with tropical rainforest. In line with identified recovery objectives of re-establishing populations within the species' former range, a founder population was translocated to a feral predator-free fenced exclosure within previously occupied habitat to the south of its current range. No published reference intervals for haematology and serum biochemistry exist for this species. Establishing reference intervals provides a valuable tool for health assessment of founder animals and investigations into population health and disease during ongoing monitoring of populations.

Objective: To develop reference intervals for haematology and serum biochemistry parameters in northern bettongs, Bettongia tropica.

Methods: Haematological and serum biochemical reference intervals were determined from 39 healthy northern bettongs captured across the Lamb Range region of north Queensland. Routine haematological and biochemical parameters were analysed, including blood gases and lactate, which indicate metabolic changes associated with stress.

Results: Haematological and serum biochemical parameters were similar to those reported from other potoroids, except for haematocrit and serum protein, which were elevated. Stress parameters were within normal limits. Macropod herpesvirus and Toxoplasma gondii were not detected.

Conclusions: Translocated northern bettongs were in good general health, and data collected at the time of capture were sufficient to establish a preliminary reference interval for the species. This provides baseline information by which to monitor health and welfare of the translocated population, and will contribute to health monitoring of other extant populations.