Different breeds, different blood: Cytometric analysis of whole blood cellular composition in chicken breeds

- Immunological variation is rarely studied in traditional poultry breeds.
- Flow cytometry revealed breed-specific variation in blood cellular composition.
- Extremes: Czech (low H/L, high CD4+), Araucana (high H/L, high monocytes).
- Such variation may reflect a combination of artificial and natural selection.
- Physiological trade-offs between immunity and other traits are also likely.

While haematological variation is well known in birds, variation in avian breeds (distinct morphotypes of the same species) remains unexplored. Poultry breeds, in particular, may show interesting evolutionary patterns and economically-relevant physiological differences. We performed a comparative examination of blood cellular composition in five chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) breeds: Araucana, Booted bantam, Czech, Minorca and Rosecomb bantam. In standard-environment-reared hens whole-blood flow cytometry revealed remarkable differences in most erythrocyte- and leukocyte-related parameters. We identified two extremes: Czech, a European breed, with a low heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and high CD4+ levels, and Araucana, a South-American breed, with a high H/L ratio and high relative monocyte count. Such variation may reflect a combination of artificial and natural selection acting on health- and stress-related traits in domestic populations. Different breeds have evolved different immunological adaptations reflecting their original need to fight pathogens and physiological constraint resulting from dissimilar physiological trade-offs.