Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the erythroplastid component of avian blood

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Avian erythrocytes are typically nucleated; however, a small proportion of anucleated erythrocytes, termed erythroplastids, may be encountered in the peripheral blood of birds. The blood films of 77 birds, encompassing 53 species and 15 orders, were assessed to characterise the erythroplastid component. Erythroplastids were recognised in the blood of 30 birds, representing 24 species and 10 orders with the greatest concentration of 23.52 × 109/L. This study documents the presence of erythroplastids in the blood of a wide range of avian species and describes the characteristics of erythroplastids and their relationship to the erythrocyte components of blood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bradley LW, Threlfall W (1974) Blood cell indices of five species of auk (Alcidae) from Newfoundland, Canada. J Zool 174:377–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark P, Boardman WSJ, Raidal SR (2009) Atlas of clinical avian hematology. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark P, Hume A, Raidal SR (2013) Erythroplastidcytosis in a Major Mitchell cockatoo. Comp Clin Pathol. doi:10.1007/s00580-013-1711-y

    Google Scholar 

  • Devyatkin AA, Revin VV, Yudanov MA, Kozlova OV, Samuilov VD (2006) Effect of hydrogen peroxide on ejection of cell nucleus from pigeon erythrocytes and state of membrane lipids. Bull Exp Biol Med 141:225–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emmel VE (1924) Studies of the non-nucleated elements of the blood. Am J Anat 33:347–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fudge AM (2000) Laboratory medicine: avian and exotic pets. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Gayathri KL, Hedge SN (1994) Sexual differences in blood values of the pigeon, Columba livia. Comp Biochem Physiol 109B:219–224

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hajduk P, Copland MD, Schultz DA (1992) Effects of capture on hematological values and plasma cortisol levels of free-range koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). J Wildl Dis 28:502–506

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkey CM (1991) The value of comparative haematological studies. Comp Haematol Int 1:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkey CM, Dennett TB (1989) A colour atlas of comparative veterinary haematology. Wolfe Publishing Ltd, London. ISBN 0-7234-0930-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkey CM, Samour HJ (1988) The value of clinical haematology in exotic birds. In: Animals E (ed) Jacobson ER, Kollias GV. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 109–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkey C, Samour JH, Ashton DG, Hart MG, Cindery RN, Finch JM, Jones DM (1983) Normal and clinical haematology of captive cranes (Gruiformes). Avian Pathol 12:73–84

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hiraga T, Ohyama K, Hashigaya A, Ishikawa T, Muramoto W, Kitagawa H, Mizuno N, Teraoka H (2008) Lead exposure induces pycnosis and enucleation of peripheral erythrocytes in the domestic fowl. Vet J 178:109–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howlett JC, Samour JH, D'Aloia MA, Bailey TA, Naldo J (1995) Normal haematology of captive adult kori bustards (Ardeotis kori). Comp Haematol Int 5:102–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johns JL, Shooshtari MP, Christopher MM (2008) Development of a technique for quantification of reticulocytes and assessment of erythrocyte regenerative capacity in birds. Am J Vet Res 69:1067–1072

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston MS, Son TT, Rosenthal KL (2007) Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in an eclectus parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc 230:1028–1031

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keerthivasan G, Small S, Liu H, Wickrema A, Crispino JD (2010) Vesicle trafficking plays a novel role in erythroblast enucleation. Blood 116:3331–3340

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keerthivasan G, Wickrema A, Crispino JD (2011) Erythroblast enucleation. Stem Cells Int. doi:10.4061/2011/139851, 139851. Published online 2011 October 5

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lavin S, Cuenca R, Marco I, Velarde R, Viñas L (1992) Hematology and blood chemistry of the marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus). Comp Biochem Physiol 103A:493–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas AM, Jamroz C (1961) Atlas of avian hematology. Agriculture monograph 25. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Migliaccio AR (2010) Erythroblast enucleation. Haematologica 12:1985–1988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller RL, Gregory TR, Gregory SM, Hsieh A, Boore JL (2008) Genome size, cell size, and the evolution of enucleated erythrocytes in attenuate salamanders. Zoology 111:218–230

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narkkong NA, Aengwanich W, Tanomthong A (2011) Morphology and morphometrics of hematological cells from eastern sarus crane, Grus antigone sharpii. Comp Clin Pathol 20:299–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palis J (2012) Losing a “nucleus” to gain a cytoplasm. Blood 119:5948–5949

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polo FJ, Peinado VI, Viscor G, Palomeque J (1998) Hematologic and plasma chemistry values in captive psittacine birds. Avian Dis 42:523–535

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Samour JH, Naldo JL, John SK (2005) Normal haematological values in gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus). Vet Rec 157:844–847

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Samour J, Naldo J, Rahman H, Sakkir M (2010) Hematologic and plasma biochemical reference values in Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus). J Avian Med Surg 24:99–106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wingstrand KG (1956) Non-nucleated erythrocytes in a teleostean fish Maurolicus mülleri (Gmelin). Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 45:195–200

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Martin Copland for his generous provision of the archive of blood films and haematological data and Mr Kevin Matschoss for the original processing of the samples.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, W.A., 6102, Australia

    P. Clark

  2. School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., 2678, Australia

    S. R. Raidal

Authors
  1. P. Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. R. Raidal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Clark.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Clark, P., Raidal, S.R. Evaluation of the erythroplastid component of avian blood. Comp Clin Pathol 23, 1117–1123 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1750-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1750-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation