SUMMARYFull blood counts and fibrinogen estimations were carried out on 49 clinically normal Chilean flamingos of different ages. Compared with adults, chicks aged 2-3 months showed low haemoglobin levels, red cell counts, packed cell volumes and mean cell haemoglobin concentrations. There was a rise in haemoglobin level and red cell count with increasing age but the mean cell haemoglobin concentration did not reach optimum until the birds were mature. In chicks the total white cell count was high and the number of heterophils was widely variable. Findings on four sick adult birds provided preliminary evidence that clinical haematology has a potential diagnostic value in this species. INTRODUCTIONFlamingos are among the most popular wild birds kept in Zoological collections and the veterinary care of these birds is an important component of avian medicine. There is evidence from studies on Rosy flamingos (Phoenicopterus tuber ruber) that clinical haematology can be of value for differential diagnosis and for monitoring the response of these birds to treatment (Bush and Smith, 1980;Hawkey et al, 1984). For full evaluation of blood counts on sick and normal individuals haematological reference values are required and these have only been published for Rosy flamingos, Greater flamingos (P.r. roseus) and Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) (Bush and Smith, 1980;von Seidel, 1980; Hawkey et al. 1982). This paper reports the results of a haematological survey on a further flamingo species, the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chiliensis). Full blood counts and fibrinogen estimations were carried out on 49 healthy immature and adult birds and the findings used to calculate normal reference values for birds of different ages. These reference values were used as the basis for a preliminary assessment of haemopathological changes occurring in the four birds which developed abnormal clinical signs during the survey period.

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Full blood counts and fibrinogen estimations were carried out on 36 clinically normal adult Rosy flamingos (21 males, 15 females) and six juveniles (sex uncertain). No significant sex differences were found but the haemoglobin levels, red cell counts, packed cell volumes and mean cell haemoglobin concentrations were lower and the white cell counts higher in juveniles than in adults. Reference values obtained from the normal birds were used as a basis for assessing the results of blood counts on nine birds showing a variety of abnormal clinical conditions. Heterophilia occurred in individuals with infections, chronic renal lesions, haemorrhage and suspected thrombosis. In one case, morphologically abnormal heterophils were present. A bird with carcinoma and peritonitis showed heteropenia. Several birds had hypochromic, microcytic red cells and severe hypochromic microcytic anaemia was found in a bird with an organising abdominal haematoma associated with chronic renal pathology. Several of the cases also had thrombocytosis and raised fibrinogen levels.

Disposition of the superficial blood vessels was studied in 38 species of reptiles with a view to examining their suitability for taking blood samples. It was concluded that the coccygeal veins were probably the most suitable for this purpose and the precise techniques for sampling from the different orders are described.