Avian blood cell quiz

Question 1

You carry out a manual blood cell count on a fresh blood smear taken from an Amazon parrot. The lymphocytes are calculated at 60%. are you concerned about this?

Answer 1

not concerned:
The Amazon parrot is a lymphotic species, meaning lymphoctyes are the predomimant WBC rather than heterophils.

Lymphotic species including Amazon parrots and canaries can have up to 70% lymphocytes as a normal finding.

Question 2

Polychromasia (A high number of immature red blood cells), is a normal finding on avian blood smears.

True or False

Answer 2

True - 1-5% polychromasia is a normal finding in avian species. Anisocytosis (red blood cells that are unequal in size) is also a normal finding. These findings are due to the relatively short life span of an avian RBC - 25-45 days. In comparison canine RBC have a life span of 110-120 days.

Question 3

You believe an avian patient is chronically stressed due to poor husbandry practices - which blood cell count finding is most likely;

Answer 3

Heterophilia and lymphopenia

high heterophils and low lymphocytes and are associated with chronic str

Question 4

Where are avian thrombocytes produced?

Answer 4

diploid bone precursor cells

Question 5

what is the most common inflammatory WBC in birds?

Answer 5

heterophil - with the exception of lymphotic species.