A Comparative Hematological Study of Peromyscus in Louisiana and Colorado

Abstract

Peromyscus gossypinus and Peromyscus nuttalli were collected near Ruston, Louisiana from 1 September 1960 to 1 June 1961. Peromyscus maniculatus was collected near Gothic, Colorado from 1 August 1961 to 20 August 1961 and in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument from 23 August 1961 to 1 September 1961. Blood was taken from each animal collected and hematological measurements were made. Erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrits were found to be higher for Peromyscus in Colorado than in Louisiana. Leukocyte counts, mean corpuscular volumes and mean corpuscular hemoglobins were higher for Peromyscus in Louisiana than in Colorado. Differences were also observed in the electrophoretic hemoglobin migration patterns between the species while mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were similar in all species. Major hematological differences were found to occur between P. maniculatus at Gothic, Colorado and P. maniculatus at the Black Canyon, Colorado, and between P. gossypinus and P. nuttalli in Louisiana.