Hematological Study of Captive White-Rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) to Assess Their Health Status

• Published in: Journal of avian medicine and surgery 2020-12, Vol.34 (4), p.343-347
• Main Authors: Karki, Bikalpa, Lamichhane, Babu Ram, Sadaula, Amir, Khadka, Bed Bahadur, Bhusal, Krishna Prasad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: avian; Blood cell count; captive; conservation; Gyps bengalensis; hematology; Nepal; Observations; ORIGINAL STUDIES; Physiological research; white-rumped vultures
• ISSN: 1082-6742; 1938-2871
• DOI: 10.1647/1082-6742-34.4.343

A study was conducted to estimate the hematological values of captive white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) in Nepal. Blood samples were collected from 23 adults and 14 juvenile captive white-rumped vultures during their annual health examinations at the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center, Kasara, Chitwan, Nepal. Of 23 adults, 12 (52%) were male and 11 (48%) were females, whereas the sex of the 14 juveniles was undifferentiated. The mean (± SD) values for the adult birds were estimated as red blood cell count (2.86 ± 1.01 × 106/µL), white blood cell count (14.75 ± 6.01 × 103/µL, hemoglobin concentration (12.86 ± 1.67 g/dL), and packed cell volume (44.69 ± 3.63%). The mean (± SD) values for the juvenile vultures were estimated as red blood cell count (1.98 ± 0.5 × 106/µL), white blood cell count (16.73 ± 7.11 × 103/µL), hemoglobin concentration (11.57 ± 0.39 g/dL), and packed cell volume (44.5 ± 2.67%). There were no significant differences between the mean values of the hematological parameters based on the age or sex of vultures.