Sex and other sources of variation in the haematological parameters of White Stork Ciconia ciconia chicks

Abstract

Biochemical and blood cell parameters have commonly been employed as useful minimally invasive indicators of the health or nutritional status of many species. Here, we present data on a suite of commonly measured blood parameters from 342 White Stork Ciconia ciconia chicks of molecularly known sex. Samples were collected in western Poland during four breeding seasons (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008). We examine whether sex, and also season (year), nesting locality, hatch date and brood size, contributed to variation in these blood parameters. There were significant seasonal differences in levels of the heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio, red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, and particularly in white blood cell count. Significant nesting locality effects were detected in haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Hatch date, virtually synonymous with chick age, significantly negatively influenced (i.e. later hatch dates (younger chicks when sampled) had lower values of red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Male chicks had significantly lower levels of red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. There was a significant sex/ hatch date interaction for red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin. Brood size did not significantly affect any of the analysed parameters. Our work shows that blood parameters are influenced by many factors, including sex and age of individuals, and such factors may need to be taken into consideration when using blood parameters as indicators of health. Such considerations are especially critical in the establishment of reference ranges of blood parameters which may be of use in captive rearing of this endangered species.

Haematological and Serum Biochemical Responses of Ovambo Chickens Fed Provitamin A Biofortified Maize

“…the tissues to the lung in the body via haemoglobin. The RBC range of chickens is affected by sex and diet of birds (Kaminski et al, 2014). The findings in the current study indicate that the effect of PABM on RBC is more evident in female birds is comparable with earlier study (Kaminski et al, 2014).…”

Effects of experimental lead exposure on physiological indices of nestling great tits Parus major: haematocrit and heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratio

“…(2014) collected blood samples to determine haematocrit on Day 7 of nestling life, whereas it was done on Day 15 in our study. It is well known that some haematological parameters, including haematocrit, undergo significant changes during nestling growth and development, tending to increase with age (Kostelecka-Myrcha et al ., 1973; Kostelecka-Myrcha and Jaroszewicz, 1993; Kostelecka-Myrcha et al ., 1997; Dawson and Bortolotti, 1997; Kostelecka-Myrcha and Chołostiakow-Gromek, 2001; Gayathri et al ., 2004; Simmons and Lill, 2006; Kaminski et al ., 2014). According to Kostelecka-Myrcha et al .…”

The use of haemoglobin concentrations to assess physiological condition in birds: a review

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