Hematological parameters in relation to age, sex and biochemical values for mute swans (Cygnus olor)

Veterinary Research Communications, Jun 2014

The knowledge of the correct morphological and biochemical parameters in mute swans is an important indicator of their health status, body condition, adaptation to habitat and useful diagnostic tools in veterinary practice and ecological research. The aim of the study was to obtain hematological parameters in relation to age, sex and serum biochemistry values in wild-living mute swans. We found the significant differences in the erythrocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in relation to age of mute swans. There were no differences in hematological values between males and females. The leukogram and H/L ratio did not vary by age and sex in swans. Among of biochemical parameters the slightly increased AST, ALP, CK, K, urea, decreased CHOL and TG values were recorded. As far as we know, this is the first study in which the morphometric parameters of blood cells in mute swans were presented. We found extremely low concentration of lead in blood (at subtreshold level). No blood parasites were found in blood smears. The analysis of body mass and biometric parameters revealed a significant differences dependent on age and sex. No differences in the scaled mass index were found. Our results represent a normal hematologic and blood chemistry values and age-sex related changes, as reference values for the mute swan.

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Hematological parameters in relation to age, sex and biochemical values for mute swans (Cygnus olor)

B. Dolka 0 R. Wodarczyk 0 A. bikowski 0 I. Dolka 0 P. Szeleszczuk 0 W. Kluciski 0 0 R. Wodarczyk Department of Teacher Training and Biodiversity Studies, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz , Banacha 1/3 St, 90-237 Lodz, Poland The knowledge of the correct morphological and biochemical parameters in mute swans is an important indicator of their health status, body condition, adaptation to habitat and useful diagnostic tools in veterinary practice and ecological research. The aim of the study was to obtain hematological parameters in relation to age, sex and serum biochemistry values in wild-living mute swans. We found the significant differences in the erythrocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in relation to age of mute swans. There were no differences in hematological values between males and females. The leukogram and H/L ratio did not vary by age and sex in swans. Among of biochemical parameters the slightly increased AST, ALP, CK, K, urea, decreased CHOL and TG values were recorded. As far as we know, this is the first study in which the morphometric parameters of blood cells in mute swans were presented. We found extremely low concentration of lead in blood (at subtreshold level). No blood parasites were found in blood smears. The analysis of body mass and biometric parameters revealed a significant differences dependent on age and sex. No differences in the scaled mass index were found. Our results represent a normal hematologic and blood chemistry values and age-sex related changes, as reference values for the mute swan. - In recent years, the increase of mute swan population (Cygnus olor) has been observed in many European countries. It is assumed that this species lost its wild instinct to avoid human settlements, more often overwinters in the cities, i.a. due to easier access to the food (Wieloch et al. 2004). The clear domestication of mute swans, an increase public interest in environmental protection issues, as well as many cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) in mute swans in Asia, Europe and Africa (20052006) (Ottaviani et al. 2010), makes that these birds more often end up in veterinary clinics, rehabilitation centers and zoos, mostly as victims accidents (injuries, fractures) and poisoning (lead toxicosis) or in emaciated state. Diagnosis of diseases in mute swans requires knowledge of physiology and pathology, to take effective treatment. In avian veterinary praxis the usefulness of blood test as complementary veterinary tools for the diagnosis is wide known. However, the performance of the blood test, obtaining enough samples, as well as the interpretation of the results still pose many difficulties in wild birds. The results of blood examination must be related to reference ranges, physiological standards for the certain bird species (Ritchie et al. 1994; Olsen et al. 2002; Clark et al. 2009; Milani et al. 2012). The hematological values may be affected by time of day, moulting period, nutrition status, environmental conditions and applied treatment (e.g. steroids) (Shave and Howard 1976; Driver 1981; Whittow 1999; Artacho et al. 2007a; Artacho et al. 2007b; Katavolos et al. 2007; Calabuig et al. 2010; Milani et al. 2012). The blood examination in mute swans is more often performed, because of importance in clinical diagnosis. Measurement of hematological and biochemical parameters is used for the birds health status assessment, monitoring of the condition, facilitate diagnosis of disease, inflammations, intoxications subclinical processes (Driver 1981; Ritchie et al. 1994; Olsen et al. 2002; Cousquer and Patterson-Kane 2006; Artacho et al. 2007a; Katavolos et al. 2007; Clark et al. 2009; OConnell et al. 2009). Mute swans are exposed to numerous pathogens, including blood parasites, such as Haemoproteus spp., Plasmodium spp., Leukocytozoon spp., Trypanosoma spp. and the microfilariae. Depending on immunological status, age, parasite loads, the hematozoan infection has impact on hematological parameters resulting in anemia, leukocytosis and eosinophilia (Campbell and Ellis 2007; Clark et al. 2009). The heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H/L) in the peripheral blood is recognized as a reliable indicator of stress in birds, associated with injury, inflammations, reproductive cycles, seasonal changes, environmental pollution (Gross and Siegel 1983; Maxwell and Robertson 1998; Campbell and Ellis 2007). The literature provides incomplete information about H/L ratio in freeliving mute swans. Mute swans are particular sensitive to lead exposure and may serve as sentinel species for toxicological contaminations in the environment (Degernes 2008). The studies have found many route of exposure to lead in this species (Perrins et al. 2003; Bowen and Petrie 2006; Degernes 2008; OConnell et al. 2009; Turner and Hambling 2012). Lead toxicosis induced significant changes in the values of commonly measu (...truncated)


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B. Dolka, R. Włodarczyk, A. Żbikowski, I. Dolka, P. Szeleszczuk, W. Kluciński. Hematological parameters in relation to age, sex and biochemical values for mute swans (Cygnus olor), Veterinary Research Communications, 2014, pp. 93-100, Volume 38, Issue 2, DOI: 10.1007/s11259-014-9589-y