Petrova, Y., v. Petrov, t. m. Georgieva & f. Ceciliani, 2018. Blood fibrinogen concent­rations in New Zealand White rabbits during the first year of life. Bulg. J. Vet. Med, 21, No 3, 286–291.

DOI: 10.15547/bjvm.1064

The aim of this study was to examine the reference range of blood plasma fibrinogen, which belongs to the group of moderate acute phase protein in rabbits. The experiment followed the dynamics of blood plasma fibrinogen (Fb) during the first year of life in 12 New Zealand White rabbits, 6 males and 6 females, starting at 1 month of age until the 7^th month. It was shown that fibrinogen concentrations increased with the age. There was a statistically significant difference in Fb concentrations in rabbits at 3 (P<0.05), 6 (P<0.01) and 7 months of age (P<0.001) compared  to levels obtained at 1 month of age in both genders. At ages of 1, 2 and 3 months, fibrinogen values were higher in male rabbits while in 7-month-old rabbits, plasma fibrinogen levels in females were significantly higher than those in male rabbits (P<0.01).

Key words: acute phase proteins, fibrinogen, rabbits