Hematology and Plasma Biochemistry in Whale Sharks (<i>Rhincodon typus</i>): Baseline Reference Intervals Based on Captivity Status, Blood Sampling Sites, and Handling Methods.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to establish reference intervals for red and white blood cell counts, hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume, and 25 key plasma biochemistry parameters in captive and wild whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). Blood samples were collected from the caudal vein (CV) and dorsal cutaneous vein (DCV) of 30 wild sharks caught in fixed nets off the Kochi Prefecture coast, Japan, and from 24 captive sharks between 2007-2023. Samples were obtained from restrained captive and wild sharks as well as unrestrained captive sharks trained for husbandry. Comparative analyses considered three factors: captivity status (wild vs. captive sharks under restraint), blood sampling sites (CV vs. DCV under restraint), and handling methods (DCV sampling under restrained vs. unrestrained condit

SUBMITTER: Ito T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12464712 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature