Hematology and Blood Chemistry Values in Free-Living Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps)

• Published in: Avian Diseases
• Main Authors: Luciana Gallo, Flavio Quintana, Walter S. Svagelj, Marcela Uhart
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: American Association of Avian Pathologists 2013
• Subjects: Argentina; Patagonia; Referencia; Phalacrocorax atriceps
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1637/10521-022713-Reg.1

As part of an on-going, long-term study on the reproductive ecology and health status of imperial cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps), blood samples were collected to establish baseline values for hematologic parameters (hematocrit, red and white blood cell counts, leukocyte profile, heterophil∶lymphocyte ratio, total solids) and serum chemistries (glucose, uric acid, urea, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin∶globulin ratio, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, calcium, phosphorus). One hundred and eighty-four male adults from the Punta León breeding colony in Patagonia Argentina were captured during the chick-rearing period of four breeding seasons, 2004 (n = 48), 2005 (n = 29), 2010 (n = 43), and 2011 (n = 64). All birds appeared to be in good body condition and no abnormalities were noted during physical examination. In general, values for the parameters reported in this study were similar to those previously described for other cormorant species. Significant interannual differences were observed in most health parameters analyzed. This study defines baseline health parameters for imperial cormorants and, coupled with previous reports on pathogen exposure, contributes to our knowledge of the overall health status of the species.Hematología y bioquímica plasmática de cormoranes imperiales (Phalacrocorax atriceps).Como parte de un estudio a largo plazo sobre la ecología reproductiva y el estado sanitario del cormorán imperial (Phalacrocorax atriceps), se recolectaron muestras de sangre para establecer los valores de referencia de parámetros hematológicos (hematocrito, conteo total de eritrocitos y leucocitos, perfil leucocitario, proporción heterófilos∶linfocitos, sólidos totales) y bioquímicas plasmáticas (glucosa, ácido úrico, urea, proteínas totales, triglicéridos, colesterol, proporción albúmina∶globulina, fosfatasa alcalina, lactato deshidrogenasa, creatina fosfoquinasa, aspartato aminotransferasa, alanina ...