4. Avian Hematology and Biochemistry

Where can you blood sample a bird

Jugular, basilic/ulnar, medial metatarsal

How much blood draw can you take for birds

up to 1% of body weight

1ml in 100g cockatiel

Anticoagulant for Birds

Li-heparin within 12 hours

RBC of birds are special because 

nucleated 

Erythrocyte characteristics in birds

Lifespan of eryhtrocyte

Oval, central oval nucleus

Larger than mammal

purple nucleus

28-45 days

Regenerative anemia includes

acute blood loss

Hemolysis

Nonregenerative anemia includes

Chronic disease, iron deficiency ,toxicosis, hypothyroidism, leukemia

Plasmodium causes

Avian malaria in canaries, penguins, snowy owls, gyrfalcons

Lethargy, anorexia, weight loss

limit mosquito exposure

Thrombocytes characteristics

nucleated, cytoplasm colorless to pale blue paler than lymphocyte with small vacuoles or red granules

less round than lymphocytes

If you see Thrombocytopenia you should expect

Septicemia

Heterophil characteristics

Oval to spindle eosinophilic granules with a central refractile body

colorless cytoplasm

nucleus generally bilobed

Heteropenia indicates

Septicemia, circovirus

Eosinophils are most commonly found in which species

Raptors ,and aquatic birds

Are Basophils common or uncommon in birds

When are they observed

Uncommon

Budgerigars and amazon parrots with active chlamydial infection

Lymphocyte Characteristics of companion birds

Generally round

Thin pale blue homogeneous cytoplasm

Small (may be confused with thrombocytes) 

Medium& Large (may be confused with monocyte)

Which species are Lymphocytic

Canaries and Amazon Parrots

Causes of Lymphocytosis

viral disease, lymphocytic leukemia

Causes of Lymphopenia 

stress response, bursal damage (virus), bone marrow suppression

Characteristics of Monocytes

Similar to mammals

Largest leukocytes • Chromatin not as dense as lymphocytes

Blue-grey cytoplasm with vacuoles

Monocytosis causes

chronic granulomatous disease (aspergillosis, mycobacteriosis), Chlamydiosis, tissue necrosis

If CK is increased

muscle damage or cardiovascular disease

If AST is increased

liver or muscle damage

Which two parameters of biochemistry do you interpret together

AST&CK

if AST elevated but CK is low, may indicate liver damage

if ALKP is increased 

juveniles, egg-laying (increase cellular activity)

GLDH looks at

specific of hepatocellular damage with low sensitivity

If liver function is impaired what happens to bile acids

increase in the blood

What can some Liver diseases cause bile acids to do

back up into the bloodstream

Low Bile acids in postprandial sample indicate

Cirrhosis-decrease in BA production

Uric Acid increases when Glomerular filtration decreases more than 70% causes 

Hypovitaminosis A-induced renal damage

Severe dehydration

Intoxication, nephrotoxic drugs

Hypervitaminosis D3

Infections

If UA concentration exceeds its solubility what occurs

Gout

Physiologically higher uric acid levels in which types of birds

Carnivorous

Increase of Calcium is caused by

Ovulating females

Bone tumors

Hypervitaminosis D

Hypocalcemia is caused by 

Persistent egg laying

Hypovitaminosis D

Insufficient dietary Ca

Acute hypocalcemia in young African grey parrot

Young African Grey parrot with hypocalcemia will show what clinical signs

Seizures 

Phosphate Elevation is caused by

Kidney damage (decreased renal excretion)

Hypervitaminosis D

Excessive dietary P

What is the Ideal dietary Ca:P ratio

2:1

all seed diets are excess in what and deficient in what

Excess P, deficient Ca

Low Ca+ high P indicates

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism

Where are Proteins synthesized

Liver

Hyperproteinemia caused by

Egg laying, Dehydration , Infection (globulins)

Hypoproteinemia is caused by

Malnutrition, Chronic enteropathies (malabsorption), renal disease (proteinuria), Liver disease (reduced synthesis)

Is glucose of birds higher or lower than in mammals

higher