J. Palomeque

HEMATOLOGIC AND BLOOD CHEMISTRY VALUES OF THE MASAI OSTRICH (STRUTHIO CAMELUS)

Normal mean values for hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hematimetric indices, erythrocyte dimensions, glucose, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, creatinine, total bilirubin, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, inorganic phosphorus, chloride, total plasma protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were obtained from the blood or plasma of four Masai ostriches (Struthio camelus) when juveniles at 5 mo of age and as adults 1 yr later in the Barcelona Zoo (Spain). Young ostriches had significantly lower concentrations of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, calcium, and magnesium, and higher levels of total protein and potassium, than the adult individuals. The rest of the parameters were not significantly different between the two age groups. The data obtained provide reference values for Masai ostriches.

Hematological values of some great flying and aquatic-diving birds.

Abstract 1. 1. Hematological data were analysed in great flying birds, aquaticdiving birds and galliformes. 2. 2. p CO 2 , p O 2 , pH, hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocyte number, sedimentation rate, plasma proteins, glucose, total glucides, total proteins, urea, lactate, plasmatic Cl − , Na± and K + and the red cell indices were determined. 3. 3. Most of the parameters studied showed no clear differences. 4. 4. The values with significant differences were lactic acid, erythrocyte number, hematocrit and the amount of hemoglobin.

Hematologic and Plasma Chemistry Values in Captive Psittacine Birds

Reference values for some hematologic parameters in 19 species and plasma chemical values in 11 species of Psittacine birds, including cockatoos, parrots, amazons, macaws, conures, and lories, were established for use in veterinary medicine. The following parameters were studied: hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte number, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte dimensions, leukocyte number and differential leukocyte count, glucose, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, total plasma protein, albumin, globulins, albumin-globulin ratio, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, total phosphorus, chloride, and osmolality. Hematologically, the Psittacine is a very homogeneous avian group, with small differences between species. They are, however, different from other groups of birds.

Comparative Hematology of Some Falconiforms

Although the hematology of certain birds such as poultry species has been studied extensively, there are few data on the hematology of falconiforms. The available data have been compiled by Altman ( 1961) and Sturkie (1968). As part of our systematic and comparative determination of hematological values in different avian orders (Balasch et al. 1973, 1974), we present here our results from several captive falconiforms-five Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo ), three Black Kites (M&us migruns), two Golden Eagles (Aquilu chrysuetos), one Imperial Eagle (A. heliacu), one Crowned Eagle (Stephanoetus coronatus), six Griffon Vultures (Gyps f&us), two Andean Condors (V&m gryphus), and six King Vultures (Surcorhumphus papa). The ages of the birds were: two Golden Eagles 10 and 12 months old, two condors more than 15 years old, six King Vultures ranging between 2 and 15 years old, and the remaining species about 4-6 years old. The diet was fresh meat. The birds’ sex could not be determined because they were to be used for zoological exhibition and could not be sacrificed. Blood samples of 7 ml were taken from the basilic

Cardiovascular and organ weight adaptations as related to flight activity in birds.

Pectoral muscle, heart and body weight, wing surface, blood volume, hemoglobin content and blood oxygen capacity were measured in three birds: pigeon, gull and hen. A relationship was found between flying activity and organ weight, blood volume and hematocrit. No significant differences were found in the O2 carrying capacity of hemoglobin in these birds.

Blood volume in domestic pigeons

Abstract 1. 1. Blood volumes ranging from 16 to 21 ml blood/100 g body wt have been found in pigeons using the isotopic (59Fe) and the Blue Evans techniques. 2. 2. A hematocrit higher than 50% and also a high hemoglobin concentration (17.3 g Hb%), gave an average of 3 g Hb/100g body wt in pigeons, against 0.5 g Hb/100g body wt in chickens. 3. 3. The pigeons heart represented 1.36% of the body weight compared to only 0.75% in chickens of similar size. The breast was 26.5% and 11.6% respectively. 4. 4. It was observed that values in pigeons were even higher than in smaller-sized flying species.

Comparative respiratory functions of blood in some passeriform birds

Abstract 1. 1. Classical hematological parameters, hemoglobin oxygen affinity and Bohr effect have been determined in 16 species of 9 families (Fringilidae, Sylvidae, Turdidae, Prunellidae, Ploceidae, Certhidae, Emberizidae. Paridae and Troglodytidae) of the order Passeriform. 2. 2. The average values of the hematological parameters show a tendency to be high due to the greater metabolic rate of the passeriform group. 3. 3. The P50 of the different species was between 43 and 53 torr, and the Bohr effect ranged from −0.403 to −0.532. 4. 4. A parallel may be made between altitude adaptation for hypoxia and high oxygen requirements for activity.

Haematology and blood chemistry values for several flamingo species

Reference values for some haematological and plasma chemical values in four species of clinically normal adult flamingos were established for use in avian medicine. The following variables were studied in rosy, greater, Chilean and lesser flamingos: haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, haematimetric indices, erythrocyte dimensions, glucose, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, total phosphorus, chloride, total plasma protein, albumin, globulins, albumin-globulin ratio, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and osmolality.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Activity in Hypothermia and Rewarming: Can RONS Modulate the Beneficial Effects of Therapeutic Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the level necessary to maintain bodily functions. The decrease in temperature may disrupt some physiological systems of the body, including alterations in microcirculation and reduction of oxygen supply to tissues. The lack of oxygen can induce the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen free radicals (RONS), followed by oxidative stress, and finally, apoptosis and/or necrosis. Furthermore, since the hypothermia is inevitably followed by a rewarming process, we should also consider its effects. Despite hypothermia and rewarming inducing injury, many benefits of hypothermia have been demonstrated when used to preserve brain, cardiac, hepatic, and intestinal function against ischemic injury. This review gives an overview of the effects of hypothermia and rewarming on the oxidant/antioxidant balance and provides hypothesis for the role of reactive oxygen species in therapeutic hypothermia.

COMPARATIVE SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBRE MORPHOMETRY AMONG WILD BIRDS WITH DIFFERENT LOCOMOTOR BEHAVIOUR

Six muscles of the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), the common coot (Fulica atra) and the yellow‐legged gull (Larus cachinnans) were analysed morphometrically, with special emphasis on their functional implications and physiological needs. Oxidative fibres always had significantly smaller size than anaerobic fibres, although no differences in the number of capillaries per fibre were found. This resulted in greater capillary counts per unit of fibre area and perimeter in oxidative than anaerobic fibres, which indicates that the greater demand for oxygen supply may be achieved by decreasing the size of the muscle fibre rather than by increasing the number of associated capillaries. Fast oxidative fibres of the pectoralis and the triceps of the gull had greater sizes than the fast oxidative fibres of the mallard and the coot, which correlates with the difference in energetic demands between flapping and gliding flight. Greater fibre cross‐sectional areas and perimeters seem suited to afford the long‐lasting activity with low metabolic demands required during gliding. By contrast, mallards and coots attain a high oxidative metabolism, during sustained flapping flight, by reducing fibre size at the expense of a diminished ability for force generation. Between‐species comparisons of the hindlimb muscles only yielded differences for the anaerobic fibres of the gastrocnemius, as an important adaptive response to force generation during burst locomotion. The need to manage sustained swimming abilities effectively may result in similar FOG fibre morphometry of the hindlimb muscles studied, indicating that a compromise between the oxygen flux to the muscle cell and the development of power is highly optimised in oxidative fibres of the bird species studied.