Clinical assessment of acid-base balance in Netherland Dwarf rabbit

Abstract Pet rabbits have increased their popularity in a lot of countries. However, most of the laboratory profiles in rabbit medicine come from the observations made in rabbit as biomodels or meat production. So that further researches are necessary to obtain reference values for hematology and biochemical profiles in pet rabbits and the different breeds, especially, in relation to acid-base balance. The aim of this report was to offer the mean values of the main parameters connected with acid-base profile in Netherland Dwarf breed. Thirty-five healthy rabbits (15 males and 20 females) were studied. Venous blood sample from lateral saphenous vein was analyzed to measure: haematocrit, haemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, blood pH, partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), total CO2, ions bicarbonate, chloride, sodium, potassium, base excess and anion Gap. Results showed a shorter range that those reported by different researchers. Moreover, differences between genders were showed in pCO2, its values were higher in males. It may be associated with a greater cellular metabolism. Values obtained in this research should be taken into account by veterinary clinicians for this breed in their clinical assessments. Besides, these values provide new results in parameters with few reference values.

摘要 宠物兔在诸多国家的受欢迎程度日益提升。然而，当前兔医学领域的多数实验室检测数据，均来自以实验兔作为生物模型（biomodels）或肉用养殖兔的观测研究。因此，亟需开展进一步研究，以获取宠物兔及不同品种兔的血液学与生化指标参考值，尤其是与酸碱平衡（acid-base balance）相关的指标。
本研究旨在提供荷兰侏儒兔（Netherland Dwarf）主要酸碱血气指标的均值参考。研究共纳入35只健康兔，其中雄性15只、雌性20只。
采集隐外侧静脉的静脉血样本，对以下指标进行检测：血细胞比容（haematocrit）、血红蛋白（haemoglobin）、血尿素氮（blood urea nitrogen）、血糖（glucose）、血液pH值、二氧化碳分压（pCO2）、总二氧化碳（total CO2）、碳酸氢根离子、氯离子、钠离子、钾离子、碱剩余（base excess）及阴离子间隙（anion Gap）。
结果显示，本研究所得指标的参考范围较既往不同研究者报道的结果更窄。
此外，不同性别间的二氧化碳分压（pCO2）存在显著差异，雄性个体的该指标水平更高，这可能与更高的细胞代谢水平相关。
兽医临床工作者在对荷兰侏儒兔进行临床评估时，应参考本研究所得的指标数值。
此外，本研究为当前参考值较为匮乏的相关指标提供了新的实验数据。