Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Suganya G and Leela V

Abstract:
Clinical haematology provides an essential tool in avian medicine for evaluation of health status in the birds. There is scanty information available on reference haematological values of emu birds reared under Indian agro-climatic conditions. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate the haematological parameters in different age groups of emu birds. The birds were divided into 3 groups namely chicks, growers and adults. Blood samples were collected in heparin coated tubes from 220 (chicks n = 40, growers n = 60 and adults n = 120) apparently healthy emu birds aged reared at commercial farms in Tamil Nadu, India. Haematological parameters such as haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count, thrombocytes and differential count were estimated as per standard protocol. Blood smear was prepared for differential count. The data were subjected to one – way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and expressed as mean±S.E. The mean haemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in the adult birds whereas total leukocyte count was comparatively higher in the emu chicks. Differential leukocyte count revealed a higher percentage of heterophils and eosinphils in the emu chicks and significantly higher lymphocytes in the growers and adult emu birds. These values serve as a baseline reference tool for the veterinarians in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.