Abstract
A technique for bone marrow aspiration from the iliac crest in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is described. Bone marrow was obtained from ten healthy koalas under general anaesthesia using the combination of tiletamine HCL and zolazepam HCL. Reference ranges were wide. The mean value for M:E was 1.7 (range 0.8–2.7), the mean percentage proliferating erythroid was 11% (range 5%–16%), and the mean percentage proliferating myeloid was 25% (range 17%–35%). In addition, bone marrow aspiration was performed on 14 koalas with various haematological diseases. Results showed aspiration to be useful in the diagnosis of leukaemia, and the investigation of regenerative anaemia and dysplastic anaemia. It was of varying use in the investigation of non-regenerative anaemia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Backhouse TC, Bollinger A (1961) Morbidity and mortality in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust J Zool 9:24–36
Batjer JD (1979) Preparation of optimal bone marrow samples. Lab Med 10:101–106
Bolliger A, Backhouse TC (1960) The blood of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust J Zool 8:363–370
Bush M, Graves JAM, O'Brien SJ et al. (1990) Dissociative anaesthesia in free-ranging male koalas and selected marsupials in captivity. Aust Vet J 67:449–451
Canfield PJ, Spencer AJ (1993) Secondary degenerative arthropathy (osteoarthritis) of the hip joints in aging free-living koalas. Aust Vet J 70:394–395
Canfield PJ, Brown AS, Kelly WR et al. (1987) Spontaneous lymphoid neoplasia in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). J Comp Pathol 97:171–178
Canfield PJ, O'Neill ME, Smith EF (1989a) Haematological and biochemical investigations of diseased koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust Vet J 66:269–272
Canfield PJ, O'Neill ME, Smith EF (1989b) Haematological and biochemical reference values for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust Vet J 66:324–326
Canfield PJ, Spencer AJ, Hartley W et al. (1992) Disorders of keratinisation in a group of related, captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), with a review of other skin conditions in the koala. J Zoo Wild Med 23:414–412
Cartright GE (1966) The anemia of chronic disorders. Semin Hematol 3:351–375
Feldman BF, Kanecko JJ, Farver TB (1981) Anemia of inflammatory disease in the dog: clinical characterisation. Am J Vet Res 42:1109–1115
Gilmore CE, Gilmore VH, Jones TC (1964) Bone marrow and peripheral blood of cats: technique and normal values. Pathol Vet 1:18–40
Harvey JW (1984) Canine bone marrow: normal hematopoesis, biopsy technique, and cell identification and evaluation. Compendium on Continuing Education 10:909–925
Heuschele WP, Hayes JR (1961) Acute leukemia in a New South Wales koala. Cancer Res 21:1394–1395
Hoff B, Lumsden JH, Valli VEO (1985) An appraisal of bone marrow biopsy in assessment of sick dogs. Can J Comp Med 49:34–42
Jain NC (1986) Schalm's veterinary haematology. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 12, 168
Latimer KS, Andreasen CB (1992) Bone marrow. In: Cowell RL, Tyler RD (eds) Cytology and hematology of the horse. American Veterinary Publications, California, p 209
Lee GR (1983) The anemia of chronic disease. Semin Hematol 20:61–76
Madewell BR (1986) Hematological and bone marrow cytological abnormalities in 75 dogs with malignant lymphoma. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 22:235–240
McKenzie RA (1981) Observations on diseases of free-living and captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust Vet J 57:243–246
Melveger BE, Earl FL, Van Loon EJ (1969) Sternal bone marrow biopsy in the dog. Lab Anim Care 19:866–868
Penny RHC, Carlisle CH, Davidson HA (1970) The blood and bone marrow picture of the cat. Br Vet J 126:459–463
Spencer AJ, Canfield PJ (1993) Haematological characterisation of heavy tick infestations in the koala. (Phascolarctos Cinereus). Comp Haematol Int 3:225–229
Tyler RD, Cowell RL (1989). Bone marrow. In: Cowell RL, Tyler RD (eds) Diagnostic cytology of the dog and cat. American Veterinary Publications, California, pp 99–118
Watson ADJ (1979) Bone marrow failure in a dog. J Small Anim Pract 20:681–690
Wildt DE, O'Brien SJ, Graves JAM et al (1988) Anesthesia and reproductive characteristics of free-ranging male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Proceedings Joint Conference, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Toronto, Ontario, pp. 109–111
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spencer, A.J., Canfield, P.J. Bone marrow examination in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Comparative Haematology International 5, 31–37 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00214488
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00214488