Download The variability of haematological parameters in Mute Swans

The variability of haematological parameters in Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) residing in the
Tricity beaches area
Marta Trzeciak
Supervisor: prof. dr hab. Włodzimierz Meissner, Department of Ecology and Vertebrate
Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk
Co-supervisor: prof. dr hab. Andrzej Koncicki, Department of Birds Diseases of Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine of University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Complete blood count (CBC) is the primary diagnostic test that helps assess
qualitatively and quantitatively haematological parameters of the animal. Basic
haematological parameters included in the CBC are: RBC - red blood cells count, WBC - white
blood cell count, white blood cells differential count, HGB - the level of total hemoglobin,
PCV (packed cell volume) – hematocrit, MCV (mean corpuscular volume) – the average
volume of red blood cells, MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) – the average amount of
hemoglobin per red blood cell, MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) – the
average concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Haematological parameters allow to assess both the health status of the individual, as
well as its entire population. Moreover, they allow to compare health and condition state of
individuals within the same species. CBC is relatively simple study in proportion to the
number of obtained information.
Conducted research focuses on the population of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) living in
the Tricity area beaches. Mute Swan is a model species of bird, because it lives close to the
human habitat, but also is a wild animal, whose organism is subjected to the influence of
fluctuating temperatures, year seasons, breeding season, hierarchy of the herd, availability
of food, etc.
Because swans are not skittish birds, it is possible not only to trace the haematological
values of the population, but also of specific individual captured several times (unique
opportunity among wild birds). This allows to develop reliable and detailed reference values
of wild birds’ CBC.
The aim of the research is therefore: to determine what factors affect the variability of
haematological parameters of this species (such as: age, sex, ambient temperature, breeding
season, condition status and health status) and what are the reference values for CBC of
Mute Swan. Research Plan includes three year seasons (fall, winter and spring) within three
biological seasons (3 years). So far, there were collected more than 100 records from
individuals of various ages and both sexes. The results allowed to draw the first conclusions
on the variability of haematological parameters and reference values for CBC of the Mute
Swan.