Fibrinogen levels in mammals suffering from bacterial infections.

In a retrospective survey of fibrinogen levels and neutrophil counts in 388 blood samples from mammals suffering from bacterial infection, the combined results of the two tests provided positive confirmation of infection in a greater percentage of samples than did the results of either test alone. In Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla and Proboscidea, the fibrinogen level was abnormal more often than the neutrophil count. It was concluded that a fibrinogen estimation is a valuable addition to routine haematological screening procedures in mammals.