These results provide comparative hematologic data and a guide for identification of blood cells in wild-caught and captive-bred king cobra snakes. Hepatozoon infection was relatively common, but was not associated with severe hematologic abnormalities.

Background: The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is the most common monitor lizard in Thailand. Reported data regarding hematology and morphology of blood cells for this species are scarce. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess routine hematologic variables and characterize the morphology, cytochemical staining, and ultrastructural features of blood cells in the Asian water monitor.

These results add to our understanding of hematologic values and blood cell morphology in Hepatozoon-infected flat-headed cats as well as the molecular analysis of the Hepatozoon organism, and may be useful for the health management and evaluation of hemoparasitic disease in this species.

Background: Black-shouldered kites (BSK, Elanus caeruleus), Brahminy kites (BrK, Haliastur indus), and black kites (BK, Milvus migrans govinda) are medium-sized hawks found in Thailand, and little is known about the hematology of these three kite species.Objective: This study reports basic hematologic values and describes the light microscopic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics of blood cells in these kites.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 113 healthy kites (50 BSKs, 53 BrKs, and 10 BKs) from January 2012 to December 2017. Complete blood cell counts, cytochemical staining (Sudan black B, peroxidase [PO], periodic acid-Schiff, α-naphthyl acetate esterase, and β-glucuronidase), and transmission electron microscopy were performed using standard methods.Results: Hematology, morphometry, and cytochemical staining patterns of blood cells were tabulated. BSK erythrocytes were smaller than BrK and BK erythrocytes.Heterophils, the largest granulocytes, were the most prevalent leukocytes in all kites. Cytochemical reactions in blood cells from these three kite species were the same, except that heterophils from BrKs were the only cells positive for PO. The ultrastructure of heterophil and eosinophil granules from the BSKs were similar in their homogeneous electron densities but differed in shape. The eosinophil granules from BrKs and BKs revealed heterogeneous electron densities with central pallor in some granules. Basophils had different granular electron densities, and some granules were electron-lucent. Conclusion:The 23 baseline hematologic values and morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics of all blood cell types in this study provide reference data for future kite healthcare. K E Y W O R D S Accipitridae, beta-glucuronidase, cytochemistry, hematology, ultrastructure 1 | INTRODUCTION The black-shouldered or black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus, BSK), Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus, BrK), and black kite (Milvus migrans govinda, BK) are medium-sized hawks of the family Accipitridae (order Accipitriformes) and are the only three kite species commonly found in Thailand. The BSK and BrK are common residents, whereas the BK is a rare resident but common winter visitor. 1 The Kasetsart University Raptor Rehabilitation Unit (KURRU) has admitted various

No abstract