STUDIES OF TOTAL ERYTHROCYTE AND LEUCOCYTE COUNTS OF FOWLS: III. VARIATION IN NUMBER OF BLOOD CELLS OF NORMAL FOWL

Abstract

Following the technique recommended by Shaw in which the erythrocytes and leucocytes are counted in the same chamber, the authors made total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts of 100 apparently healthy and vigorous single-comb White Leghorn hens. Following the counts, post-mortem examinations did not reveal any striking abnormalities. With few exceptions the birds were singularly free from intestinal parasites.The range of the erythrocyte counts was found to be 1,805,000 to 3,845,000, and of leucocyte counts 18,330 to 49,000. The data are analyzed statistically.In respect to the erythrocyte counts, the authors' data are in complete agreement with the recent studies by Cook and Dearstyne of 75 female birds. There is, however, a marked difference in the range (3,000–47,000) and the mean of the leucocyte counts, which may be due to the different technique employed by Cooke and Dearstyne.Total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts were also made of 47 one- to two-day-old chicks. The range of the erythrocyte counts was found to be 1,800,000 to 3,180,000 and of the leucocyte counts 15,000 to 28,330. A statistical analysis of the data is presented. In the case of the baby chicks, since the environmental conditions are relatively uniform, it would appear that factors other than environment affect the total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts of individual chicks.