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The present study describes the haematological profile, feeding preference, and comparison of morphometric characters of blue rock pigeon (Columba livia) breeding pairs. For this purpose, 25 pairs (25 samples per sex) were sampled through Mist nets from district Okara and Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan. Birds were then anaesthetized with a combination of ketamine HCL (10 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.2 mg/kg) and subjected to morphometric measurements. 5µL blood also was taken from the jugular vein of each anaesthetized bird for haematological analysis. Few pairs were also dissected to remove gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) for food preferences. Results revealed that there are no significant differences in the haematological parameters and feeding preference of breeding pairs of Columba livia. The gut analysis further revealed, the major portion of gut contents consisted of pea and corn in most of the pairs. Regarding the mensural measurements, significant differences were recorded in the body weight, length of the longest primary feather, and chest circumference, whereas the rest of the studied parameters remain nonsignificant between sexes. So, it is concluded that apart from 3 morphometric parameters (body weight, length of longest primary feather and chest circumference), both sexes are alike in term of morphometry, haematology and food preference.

The Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic which outbreak from Wuhan China in late 2019. It has produced serious disturbances and unprecedented problems around the whole world including in worldwide healthcare systems. Severe corona viral acute syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing a severe viral pneumonia which began in December 2019 in Wuhan. The Omicron virus is a newly emerging variant of previously existing SARS-CoV-2. This variant is firstly reported in South Africa on November 24, 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified it as a variation of concern on November 26, 2021. A large number of mutations (60 mutations) with several novel mutations, are discovered in this variant and these mutations disrupt the spike protein targeted by most COVID-19 vaccines. Higher degree of mutations in the virus makes it virus of concern in its transmission, effects on immune system and level of vaccine resistance. As a result, the variant was quickly identified as "of concern," and several countries instituted travel restrictions in an attempt to prevent the spread of the mutation throughout the world. Omicron also reported as zoonotic disease.

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Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the gut content and record morphometric and hematological parameters in the common hoopoe (Upupa epops). Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of healthy birds (10 from each sex) were collected from different locations in Okara District, Punjab, Pakistan, from September 2020 to March 2021. Birds were captured live for blood samples and morphometric and gut analyses. Results: It was revealed that the concentrations of different hematological parameters were as follows: hemoglobin, 20.03g/dl; red blood cells, 3.28 × 106/μl; white blood cells, 326.67 × 103/ μl; hematocrit, 56.47%; MCV, 173.33 FL; MCH, 57.4 pg; MCHC, 57.4 pg; PLT, 8.33/μl; and RDW, 8.33/μl. The percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils were 84.67%, 11.67%, 2.00%, and 1.67%, respectively. The gut content of the common hoopoe mostly consisted of Coleoptera and Acrididae larvae. However, Lepidoptera, Gryllotalpidae, and sand were also recorded, along with seeds of Salvadora persica. Conclusions: There were no significant differences between male and female U. epops in feeding content, total weight of the gut, or weight of the empty gut. Regarding the morphometric param¬eters, there was a significant difference in both sexes’ wingspan, body length, and body weight. Males were significantly heavier than females.