Hematologic values of normal Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus): a comparison between wild-caught and laboratory-bred male animals.

Complete and differential blood counts were conducted on 23 male squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) of Bolivian origin. The sample included 9 laboratory-bred and 14 wild-caught adult monkeys weighing between 600 and 1,500 g. The means of total white blood cell (WBC) counts, total hemoglobin and hematocrits of laboratory-bred animals were found to be significantly different from those of wild-caught monkeys (p less than 0.01). Other hematologic parameters showed no significant differences between the two experimental groups. 3 of 14 (21.0%) wild-caught animals each had 1 reactive lymphocyte and 7% of the same group had 10 nucleated erythrocytes per 100 WBC. No reactive lymphocytes or nucleated erythrocytes were observed in laboratory-bred animals. The importance of these baseline data and the basis for the differences observed between laboratory and wild-caught monkeys are discussed within the context of experimental studies involving primates in which hematologic parameters are valuable.