Differential Features of Erythrocytes of African Free Ranging Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus) of Lake Manyara National Park

Abstract

Erythrocytes of the Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber roseous, and those of the free   ranging chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus, differed characteristically in sizes, cytoplasmic and nuclear staining, shapes and nuclear shapes. Erythrocytes of the greater flamingo were spindle shaped and more elongated and significantly larger than those of the free .ranging chicken. The cytoplasm is scanty and stains more eosinophilic (acidic) compared to erythrocytes of the free ranging chicken. The nuclei in flamingo's erythrocytes are distinctive, large, oval, elongated to spindle shaped and centrally located. The nuclei are banded or striated across the length.  Majority of chicken erythrocytes are oval to round with oval nuclei. The cytoplasm is less eosinophilic compared to erythrocytes of the greater flamingo. Respective means ± standard deviations of erythrocyte counts (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)  in  the  free ranging chicken and Greater flamingo  were; RBC: 2.0±0.6 and  2.5±0.6  xl 012 /1,  Hb:   13.3±3.6   and   9.5±1.0   mmol/1,   PCV:  0.32±0.065 and 0.47±0.05 1/1,  MCV: 176.3±50.6 and 174.4±42.4  fl,  MCH: 66.3±27.4 and  39.3±6.0 pmol and  MCHC values of 39.0±9.50 and  20.5±4.5 mmol.