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Abstract

The research established baseline hematological parameters of five species comprising 20 each of Ploceus luteolus (Little Weaver), Apus caffer (White-Rumped Swift), Quelea quelea (Red-Billed Quelea), Euodice cantans (African Silver-Billed) and Euplectes frascisca (Northern Red Bishop) of apparently healthy free-living wild birds in Zaria, Nigeria. Apus caffer obtained highest mean hematocrit (46.25�±1.43%), hemoglobin concentration (15.87�±0.58 g/dl) and E. cantans had highest mean erythrocyte count (5.24�±0.32x1012/l), while P. luteolus recorded lowest mean hematocrit (34.45�±1.73%), hemoglobin concentration (12.15�±0.59 g/dl) and erythrocyte count (3.71�±0.15x1012/l), respectively. Apus caffer again had highest mean corpuscular volume while the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was highest for P. luteolus (35.41�±0.51 g/l). The mean leukocyte count was highest for A. caffer, 2.62�±0.31x109/l, and lowest for E. cantans, 0.63�±0.08x109/l. Apus caffer also had highest mean values for heterophils (2.62�±0.31x109/l) and lymphocytes (2.01�±0.23x109/l). Euodice cantans obtained lowest mean counts for heterophils (0.04�±0.02x109/l) and lymphocytes (0.54�±0.08x109/l). Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, an important indicator for prolonged stress was highest for E. cantans (1.95�±1.90) and lowest for E. frascisca (0.12�±0.02). In conclusion, there were significant interspecies differences (p<0.05) for these hematological parameters and this could, among other factors be associated with differences in disease response and increased energy demand as exemplified by A. caffer (Apodiformes) which had highest mean values for almost all the parameters; owing to the fact that A. caffer flies higher and more rapidly and spends much time in the air than the Passeriformes studied, hence the physiological increased need for adequate gaseous exchange.

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