Blood and urine physiological values in captive bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana ( Anura: ranidae )

Samples of healthy Rana catesbeiana (302 specimens, 9-21 months-old, 50% each sex) from the north-east of Argentina, were analyzed by spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, densitometry, refractometry and microscopy in order to obtain blood and urine reference values. Confidence intervals (p<0.05) for PCV (28.6-31.6%), RBC (0.40-0.44 T/L), MCV (686732 fL), hemoglobin (6.41-7.20 g/dL), MCH (151-164 pg), MCHC (22.6-24.0%), WBC (18.722.3 G/L), neutrophils (58.4-63.4%), lymphocytes (23.9-29.8%), monocytes (2.1-3.8%), eosinophils (4.6-7.0%), basophils (2.9-4.1%), fibrinogen (0.59-0.99 g/dL), total protein (4.19-4.49 g/dL), albumin (1.49-1.67 g/dL), globulins (2.64-2.97 g/dL), creatinine (4.09-5.56 mg/L), urea (76.1-92.4 mg/L), uric acid (11.5-15.4 mg/L), triglycerides (0.34-0.52 g/L), total cholesterol (0.56-0.67 g/L), HDL-C (0.03-0.05 g/L), LDL-C (0.34-0.44 g/L), alpha lipoprotein (6.01-8.67%), beta lipoprotein (91.3-93.9%), glucose (0.45-0.54 g/L), Na (116-121 meq/L), K (3.42-3.81 meq/ L), Cl (100-116 meq/L), Ca (7.98-8.61 mg/dL), P (8.31-9.36 mg/dL), Mg (2.26-2.55 mg/dL), Fe (105-178 ug/dL), ALP (144-170 IU/L), ALT (10.0-14.8 IU/L), AST (42.8-53.4 IU/L), GGT (7.810.6 IU/L), LDH (99-135 IU/L), CHE (151-185 IU/L), CPK (365-500 IU/L), bleeding time (289393s), coagulation time (452-696s), prothrombin time (76-128s), urinary density (1.00611.0089), and urinary pH (6,38-6.96), were obtained. Some intervals were similar to those obtained in amphibians, birds or mammals, but others were very different. Physiological variations attributable to age, sex, season, and handling and feeding system, were registered on certain parameters. The usefulness of the parameters studied to evaluate sanitary, metabolic and nutritional state on captive bullfrog should be emphasized.