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Haematological responses of Australian owls to naturally occurring disease or injury

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Abstract

We investigated the haematological characteristics exhibited in response to a range of injuries and naturally occurring inflammatory disease, of 11 birds from five species of owls. A spectrum of haematological responses was observed. The PCV was between 0.32 and 0.56 l/l. The concentration of total leukocytes varied between each case, with the least concentration of 3.75 × 109/l and the greatest concentration of 17.03 × 109/l. Heterophils were the predominant leukocyte in 7/11 cases, lymphocytes were the predominant leukocyte in 3/11 cases and eosinophils the predominant leukocyte in 1/11 case. Morphological atypia of leukocytes was recognised in all cases. This study illustrates the heterogeneous haematological response exhibited by owls to naturally occurring disorders.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the laboratory scientists that assisted with the processing of blood samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia

    P. Clark

  2. School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia

    W. S. J. Boardman

  3. School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia

    S. R. Raidal

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  1. P. Clark
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  2. W. S. J. Boardman
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  3. S. R. Raidal
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Correspondence to P. Clark.

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Clark, P., Boardman, W.S.J. & Raidal, S.R. Haematological responses of Australian owls to naturally occurring disease or injury. Comp Clin Pathol 23, 993–997 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1731-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1731-7

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