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Normal hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals for juvenile wild turkeys
D I Bounous1, R D Wyatt, P S Gibbs
1Department of Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA. dbounous@calc.vet.uga.edu
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
|May 17, 2000
Summary
This study establishes hematology and serum chemistry reference intervals for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopova silvestris). These values are comparable to those found in domestic turkeys, aiding wildlife health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Wildlife Biology
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Establishing baseline hematological and serum chemistry values is crucial for assessing the health of wild animal populations.
- Limited reference data exists for wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopova silvestris), hindering accurate health evaluations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference intervals for key hematological and serum chemistry parameters in 4-month-old wild turkeys.
- To provide a baseline for future health monitoring and disease diagnosis in this species.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 48 wild turkeys during September and October 1996.
- Assayed parameters included packed cell volume, white blood cell counts (total and differential), total protein, albumin, glucose, calcium, uric acid, triglyceride, aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
Main Results:
- Reference intervals were established for all measured hematological and serum chemistry parameters.
- The determined reference intervals for wild turkeys were found to be similar to those previously reported for domestic turkeys.
Conclusions:
- The established reference intervals provide valuable data for the health assessment of wild turkeys.
- The similarity to domestic turkey values suggests potential conservation of physiological parameters across subspecies.