The Method of Total Erythrocyte and Leukocyte Counting in Raptors at Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC) Jogja

Andreas Bandang Hardian; Warih Pulung Nugrahani Nugrahani; Irhamna Putri Rahmawati Rahmawati; Dorothea Vera Megarani Megarani

Authors

Andreas Bandang Hardian Laboratorium Patologi Anatomi Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Universitas Brawijaya
Warih Pulung Nugrahani Nugrahani
Irhamna Putri Rahmawati Rahmawati
Dorothea Vera Megarani Megarani

Abstract

Most of raptor species rehabilitated for conservation purpose at WRC Jogja are eagles. Annually, we perform general raptor examination involving conventional routine hematologic examination. However, low sample quality and over dense blood cell population during total erythrocyte and leukocyte counting were deemed as obstacles. This study aimed to give wider insight in how total erythrocyte and leukocyte counting was performed at WRC Jogja to overcome those obstacles. Firstly, handling and restraint were done physically adapting the Aba method. One-to-two half millilitres of blood was collected from the ulnar vein using 3-ml-syringe with 24-gauge-needle which was then preserved in an EDTA-containing tube and proceeded to subsequent method no more than 3 hours after collection. No hypovolemic shock was observed. During total erythrocyte and leukocyte counting using Neubauer-ruled counting chamber, we modified the dilution factor to be 250-fold and 50-fold respectively. This method yielded a countable cell density and can be applied in other species in similar condition.

References

Campbell, T. & Ellis, C. K. 2013. Avian and exotic animal hematology and cytology, John Wiley & Sons.

Carisch, L., Stirn, M., Hatt, J. M., Federer, K., Hofmann-Lehmann, R. & Riond, B. 2019. White blood cell count in birds: evaluation of a commercially available method. BMC Vet. Res., 15, 93.

Dixon, J. & Torbert, B. J. 1959. A dilution-stain for direct enumeration of avian blood cells. Poult. Sci., 38, 222-223.

Hawkins, P., Morton, D., Cameron, D., Cuthill, I., Francis, R., Freire, R., Gosler, A., Healy, S., Hudson, A. & Inglis, I. 2001. Laboratory birds: refinements in husbandry and procedures. Lab. Anim., 35, 1-163.

Maechtle, T. L. 1998. The Aba: A Device for Restraining Raptors and Other Large Birds (El Aba: Un Aparato para Restringir Rapaces y Otras Aves Grandes). J. Field Ornithol., 66-70.

Mcguill, M. W. & Rowan, A. N. 1989. Biological effects of blood loss: implications for sampling volumes and techniques. ILAR Journal, 31, 5-20.

Ochei, J. O. & Kolhatkar, A. A. 2000. Medical laboratory science: theory and practice, McGraw Hill Education.

Payne, S. 2007. The Handling of Sick and Injured Large Wild Birds of Prey. National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference Proceedings.

Santosa, E. B., Aswan, M., Fitrianingsih, N. & Mulyani, S. 2003. Studi Gambaran Darah Burung Elang Yang Dipelihara Di Kebun Binatang Gembira Loka YOGYAKARTA. Jurnal Sain Veteriner, 21.

Sulaiman, M., Aduta, D. & Salami, S. 2010. The Comparative study of the blood cellular composition in Muscovy ducks in Nigeria. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 9, 836-841.

Walberg, J. White blood cell counting techniques in birds. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 2001. 72-76.

Wildlife Ethics Committee of South Australian Museum. Collection of blood from wildlife policy, 2017. 1-11.

Whitworth, D., Newman, S., Mundkur, T. & Harris, P. 2007. Wild birds and avian influenza: an introduction to applied field research and disease sampling techniques, Food & Agriculture Org.

Yadav, S. P., Kannaki, T., Mahapatra, R., Paswan, C., Bhattacharya, T., Sarkar, S. K. & Chatterjee, R. 2018. In vivo cell-mediated immune, hemagglutination inhibition response, hematological and biochemical values in native vs. exotic chicken breeds. Poult. Sci., 97, 3063-3071.