**4.13. Blood urea nitrogen**

Urea is the end product of protein and amino acids and is generated in the liver through urea cycle (Woo and Cannon, 1991).Blood Urea Nitrogen is one of the important tools to know the renal function status. The values of BUN (6.5 to 48.2, 27.9, ± 13.7 mg /dl) was observed in free range tigers is commonly seen in malnutrition and hepatic insufficiencies, however, increased BUN is generally associated with renal disease congestive heart failure, shock, hypertension etc. Shrivastav et. al. (2011) observed the high rise might be also due to adlib intake of meat as the Royal Bengal Tiger can consume 35-40 kg meat of pray animal at a time (Prater, 2005).

#### **4.14. Hepatic enzymes**

The serum enzymes used routinely in clinical diagnosis are synthesized in liver (Schaffner, and Schaffner, 1991). In hepatocellular or in cholestatic forms of liver injury these hepatic enzymes are released in to the serum. The serum enzyme activities that are elevated in hepato cellulardamage are Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Aspertate Aminotransferase (AST) Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase (OCT), Glutamic Dehydrogenase (GD) Sorbitol Dehydrogenase (SDH) and arginase. The elevated serum activities that suggest cholestasis (intra hepatic or extrahepatic) are Alkaline phosphotase (AP), Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and 5' nucleotidase (5'ND). The pathogenesis of the hepatic disease in carnivores especially in Felids are associated with viral hepatitis, parasitic infections or mechanical injuries (Rao and Acharjyo, 2002). The liver has great functional reserves and signs of hepatic failure often do not develop until 70% or more of the functional capacity of the liver is lost (Tennant, 1997).

#### **4.15. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)**

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) was also termed as SGPT and used by many estimations and large number are found in Hepatocytes in cats, dogs and promates (Benjamin, 1979).The ALT was estimated 21.2 to 109.0, 67.9, 27.84 ± IU /L in free range healthy tigers (Shrivastav et. al, 2011).

#### **4.16. Aspertate aminotransferase (AST)**

Apart from liver, AST (Aspertate Aminotransferase) is also present in muscles and cardiac muscles. The higher value of AST though is not an organ specific but used as an indicator of

liver dysfunctions. Shrivastav, et. al. (2011) reported 14.4 to 84.0, 57.9 17.27± IU /L in the free range tigers.

Tigers Blood: Haematological and Biochemical Studies 241

[6] Douglas,A and Nelson,M.D.(1991)Basic Examination of Blood, Haematopoiesis Erythrocytic and Leukocytic Disorders. *In* Clinical Diagnosis and Management by

[7] Fowler, ME (1986) Hematological data for some exotic species of Falidae: zoo and wild

[8] Gopal, R. (1993) Fundamentals of Wildlife Management 2nd Edn JH publication

[9] Galli, S. J. et. al. (1984).Basophils and Mast Cells: morphologic insights into their

[10] Gallin et. al.(1982) Human neutrophils specific granules deficiencies: a model to assess the role of neutrophils specific granules in the evolution of inflammatory response,

[11] Haden, R. L. Qualitative changes in neutrophilic leukocytes, Amer. Journal of Clinical

[12] Harvey, J.W (1997). The Erythrocyte: Physiology, Metabolism and Biochemical Disorders *In* Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals Ed. Kaneko et. al. 5th Edn

[13] Jain NC (1986) Materials and Methods for the study of the blood. Veterinary

[14] Jain, N.C. and Kno, C.S (1975). Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate in dog cat. Comparison of two methods and influence of Packed Cell Volume, Temperature and storage of

[15] Karanth K.U and Gopal, R. (2005) An Ecology based policy framework for human –tiger coexistence in India. *In* People and Wildlife: Conict or co-existence 373-387. Woodruffe,

[18] Prater S. M. (2005) Indian wild animals, 7th Edn Bombay natural history society,

[21] Prasse K.W. et. al. (1973) Blood Neutrophilic Granulocyte kinetics in cats American

[22] Rao A. T., and Acharyjo, L.N (2002) Disease of Wild Felids, Reproprint Publisher,

[23] Richard A.M. (1991) Specific Proteins: *In* Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods 18th Edn. HBJ International Edition W. B. Saunders pp 215. [24] Schaffner, J.A. and Schaffner F (1991) Assessment of the Status of the Liver *In* Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods 18th Edn. HBJ International Edition

[19] Pennington,R.J.(1971).Biochemical aspects of muscles disease. Adv.clin.Chem.14:409. [20] Peters, T. (1977) Serum albumin: Recent progress in the understanding of its structure

R. Thirgood, S. and Rabinowitz, A. *Edn* Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. [16] Mc Pherson, R. A. (1991) Specific Proteins: *In* Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods 18th Edn. HBJ International Edition W. B.Saunders pp 215. [17] Meyers-Wallen V.N et al. (1984) Hematologic Values in Healthy Neonatal, Weanling

and Juvenile Kittens American Journal of Veterinary Research, 45: 1322.

Laboratory Methods 18th Edn. HBJ International Edition W. B.Saunders.

animal medicine, 2nd Edn. Saunders, London, p 840.

Harcourt Brace Academic Press, Asia Pp 157-203.

hematology, 3rd Edn. Lea & Fibiger, Philadelphia.

blood. Journal of Small Animal Practices 16:671.

and biosynthesis.Clinical Chemistry., 23:5.

Journal of Veterinary Research, 34:1021.

biology, secretary pattern and functions, Prog. Allergy, 34:1.

Allahabad.

Blood, 59:1317 pp.

Bombay -37-45 pp.

Bhubaneswar

W. B. Saunders pp 229.

Pathology, 5: 354-1935.

The haemato-biochemical profile of the Bengal tigers reported by Shrivastav et. al. (2011) was compared with the values of captive Bengal tigers (Seal et al. 1987), and no major differences were noticed except in ALT, AST and BUN. The mean values (BUN (27.90 ± 13.77 mg/dl), ALT (67.80 ± 27.84 IU/L) and AST (57.9. ± 17.27 IU/L) in free range tigers (Table1)) are comparatively higher with the values of BUN (23.4 ± 0.70 mg/dl), and AST (26.5 ± 4.7 IU/L) as recorded by Seal et al. (1987).The higher values in free range tigers might be associated with beasts of prey, its variety and intake of flesh in natural habits and habitat while zoo tigers are locally dependent on monitored diet in captivity.

Comprehensive information on haemato-biochemical parameters of free range tigers would be helpful for health monitoring and assessment of health status and prognosis of Bengal Tigers (Panthera *tigris tigris*) during treatment.
