Hematology of Prosimian Primates: Galago, Lemur and Propithecus

Standard hematological techniques were used to determine total erythrocyte counts, total leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations, packed cell volumes, differential counts and cell diameters for prosimians maintained at the Duke University Primate Facility. Several species and subspecies of the genera Galago, Lemur, and Propithecus were examined. The hematological parameters of the prosimians were compared with those of man. Prosimian primates have higher hemoglobin concentrations and higher total erythrocyte counts than man, and the diameters of the prosimian erythrocytes are smaller than the diameters of human erythrocytes. The leukocyte counts of prosimians are higher than those of man. Among prosimians, the ratio of lymphocytes to neutrophils is greater than one, whereas in man the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is greater than one.