Hematological Responses in Captive White-Winged Doves (Zenaida asiatica) Induced by Various Radiotransmitter Attachments with Observations on Haemoproteus spp Susceptibility

Date

2003-08

Authors

Mink, Jeffrey N.

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Abstract

In the past several decades white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) have moved from a historically significant breeding range in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas by increasing the periphery of the range northward, particularly in urban locales. Telemetry has provided researchers with detailed data of population demographics; however, attachment of various transmitter types can be invasive and compromising to the recipient. Clinical hematology parameters are efficient evaluators of physiological stress often overlooked in wildlife research. Hematological responses of captive white-winged doves induced by various transmitter attachment techniques were investigated, as well as, susceptibility to Haemoproteus spp. Two hundred ten captive dove at Texas A&M University-Kingsville were fitted with external radiotransmitter attachments: double-loop body harness, cyanoacrylate glue, surgical implants (intracoelomic and subcutaneous, both fitted with external antennas) and a control. Blood collections from medial metatarsal vein were executed on all birds within 48 h for discrete WBC profile for a pretreatment sample. Five posttreatment samplings were taken during 20 August 1998 and 20 November 1998. Mixed Model Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed no significant differences in treatments across samplings occurred for any variable: total WBC counts, heterophil counts, lymphocyte counts, heterophil-lymphocyte ratio, basophil counts, eosinophil counts and monocyte counts. Scheffe post-hoc tests revealed that adult female white-winged doves had significantly higher total WBC counts than either adult males (P <.05) or hatch-year birds (P <.05). Significant posttreatment differences were indicated in total white blood cell (WBC) counts (F521Q - 18.0, P <.05), heterophil counts (P5115 = 5.2, P <.05), lymphocyte counts (P5115 = 3.3, P <.05), heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (P5 220 = 5.0, P <.05), eosinophil counts (P5 220 = 4.8, P <.05), and monocyte counts (P5220 = 14.6, P <.05). Though statistically non-significant, the greatest increase of WBC and heterophil count across all treatments was manifested by intracoelomic surgery. Regardless of treatment, in this captive scenario, WBC differentials returned to, or below, pretreatment hematologic means by the last sampling period. Chi Square values revealed no relationship between presence and prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. between radio-transmitter treatments and a control across sampling periods.

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white-winged dove, birds, hematology, parasites

Citation

Mink, J. N. (2003). Hematological responses in captive white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) induced by various radiotransmitter attachments with observations on Haemoproteus spp susceptibility (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.

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