Ultra-structure of blood cells and molecular characteristics of Haemoproteus sp. in Blyth’s hawk eagle

Abstract

Haemoproteus was detected in the blood smear of an adult female Blyth's hawk eagle which was submitted to the Kasetsart University Raptor Rehabilitation Unit. The morphology and ultra-structure of leukocytes and gamonts of Haemoproteus were described. The gamont's cytoplasm contained scattered brown to black pigment granules with a mean of 12 granules per parasite. Monocytes played a major role in the elimination of the gamonts. According to the annotated checklist of the avian Haemoproteidae, the Haemoproteus in this eagle was closely related to Haemoproteus buteonis. The phylogeny of mitochondrial cytochrome b genes of Haemoproteus revealed 96.5 and 97.6 % similarity in identity with the Haemoproteus from two collared scops owls and seven barn owls (99.3 to 99.8 % similarity) from Thailand, and they were also similar to the Haemoproteus isolated from other reported avian species in Southeast Asia. The eagle was clinically healthy without any treatment. It was free from Haemoproteus by light microscopy and molecular technique 8 months later and was released in Krungching Waterfall, Khao Luang National Park, southern Thailand.

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of blood cells in black‐shouldered, Brahminy, and black kites

“…The mean eosinophil diameter in the three kite species were slightly less than that of heterophils, which is similar to the findings in most avian species but not in the shikra, where eosinophils are much larger than heterophils . The central bodies commonly found in the heterophil granules of most avian species were not detected in the kite species of this study, which is similar to findings reported for other raptors .…”

“…Heterophils were the most abundant granulocytes, as is the case in most avian species, and which was previously reported in raptors . In all kite species, thrombocytes were approximately twice as abundant as WBCs, while thrombocyte counts reported for other raptor species are slightly lower, such as in the barn owl (137% the WBC count), crested serpent eagle (176%), and shikra (196%) …”

“…Light microscopic observations and the ultrastructure of heterophils in these three kite species were not different from those reported for other avian species . Ultrastructurally, the largest, most highly electron‐dense, fusiform granules were primary granules and the smaller, less electron‐dense granules were secondary granules as in other avian heterophils .…”

“…These data show heterogeneity among avian species. The ultrastructural examination also revealed that large round granules in eosinophils from BSKs and BKs were similar to those from the lesser adjutant, great argus, Blyth's hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, and shikra, while BrK eosinophils were similar to those of the painted stork and contained numerous small granules . Ultrastructural analysis enhanced the resolution of eosinophil granules in the BrK, showing that they were smaller than those of the BSK and BK.…”

“…Examination of blood films is an important component of hematologic investigations and provides useful information about blood cell alterations . There are some reports on the morphology and ultrastructure of avian blood cells in Thailand and hemograms from other raptors; however, variations in cell characteristics exist among species within the Aves class . Normal hematologic values vary between the species as well .…”