Complete Blood Cell Count and White Blood Cell Counting Method Comparison in 49-day-old Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

COMPARISON OF HEMATOLOGIC DIFFERENCES WITH LITHIUM HEPARIN AND DIPOTASSIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID IN EUROPEAN STARLINGS (STURNUS VULGARIS)

Preservation of blood through use of anticoagulants allows delayed assessment of hematologic health and is commonly employed in veterinary health assessments. The two most common anticoagulants are lithium heparin (LH) and dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and their effects can vary widely between species. The hematologic effects of these anticoagulants on blood from European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) have not been established, and these birds could serve as models for passerine species both in managed collections and in the wild. Blood was drawn from 45 European starlings and immediately divided into either LH or EDTA microtainers. For each sample, packed cell volume (PCV), total solids (TS), and complete blood counts were performed. There were no significant differences between EDTA and LH anticoagulated blood for PCV, white blood cell count (WBC) slide estimates, WBC determined by Leukopet, absolute heterophils, absolute lymphocytes, absolute monocytes, absolute eosinophils, or absolute basophils. Blood anticoagulated with EDTA had higher total solids than blood mixed with LH. For both anticoagulants, Leukopet-measured total WBC were consistently higher than blood film estimates. There were no subjective morphologic differences for WBC and no hemolysis observed in the samples. Thrombocyte clumping was prominent for LH blood samples and minimal for EDTA samples. These results reveal that LH and EDTA are both suitable anticoagulants for use in European starlings, and EDTA may be superior for diagnostic purposes or for qualitative evaluation of thrombocyte quantity.

Intraocular pressure estimates using rebound tonometry in juvenile northern bobwhite quails (Colinus virginianus)

OBJECTIVE

To determine intraocular pressure (IOP) estimates using rebound tonometry in juvenile northern bobwhite quails.

ANIMALS STUDIED

Eighteen, 28-day-old, wild caught, captive raised, northern bobwhite quails.

PROCEDURES

Birds were manually restrained in sternal recumbency with two fingers placed below the head, applying minimal pressure. Following detailed ophthalmic examination by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, IOP was obtained via rebound tonometry using the Tonovet "P" setting for undefined species in animals without obvious ocular pathology. IOPs were estimated three times on each eye. The mean result of the three estimates was recorded for further analysis. Only readings with low or no reported error were recorded.

RESULTS

No difference was detected between the eyes; therefore, a reference interval was calculated using both eyes. The overall IOP (n = 36 eyes) was 5.6 ± 1.2 mmHg (mean ± SD), the median was 6 mmHg, and the range was 2-7 mmHg. The 95% reference interval was 2.2-7.6 mmHg. All quails were ultimately released with no clinically appreciable abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides information on normal IOP values for juvenile northern bobwhite quails, which can be used to evaluate the ocular health of this species. Future studies with a larger number of animals are needed, as well as validation of the rebound tonometry method using direct manometry.