Vergleichende Charakterisierung der Blutgranulozyten von vier Spezies der Ordnung Flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes) und vier Spezies der Ordnung Ruderfüßer (Pelecaniformes)

The diagnostic value of haematology in aiding the interpretation of disease and reconvalescence has been widely acknowledged; especially the differential count and the evaluation of cell morphology have merit in differentiating physiological and pathological conditions. Literature of the morphologic description of avian white blood cells from species usually managed at zoological institutions is scarce. Yet, significant species specific differences have been encountered. The focus of this work is the accessible presentation and comparison of granular blood leukocytes in eight species of Phoenicopteriformes and Pelecaniformes, which are frequently presented in zoological institutions and therefore of diagnostic interest to the veterinarian evaluating blood smears. High quality light microscopic images of eosinophil, heterophil and basophil granulocytes obtained from May-Grünwald-Giemsa stained blood smears by examination and documentation with a Zeiss Axiophot Microscope and digital camera and software suitable for digital image processing are presented. Species specific details of cell morphology with emphasis on the granular morphology are analyzed and compared to allow proper differentiation of these blood leukocytes of far-reaching diagnostic value.