Hematologic metrics from Olrog?s gull (Larus atlanticus) during the non-breeding season in Argentina

GARCIA, GERMAN; CASTANO, MELINA V.; PAZ JESICA; PATERLINI, CARLA A.; ZUMPANO, FRANCISCO; FAVERO MARCO

JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE

AMER ASSOC ZOO VETERINARIANS

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2021 vol. 52 p. 348 - 356

1042-7260

Ecophysiology and conservation studies often require the prior establishment of baselinephysiologic metrics. For instance, expected reference intervals for health metrics are valuable tools forveterinarians and conservationists who monitor the health status of endangered populations and species. Thisstudy establishes reference intervals for hematologic metrics in free-ranging Olrog?s gull (Larus atlanticus) duringthe nonbreeding season. Fifty-six gulls (immature and adults) were captured and studied in Mar del Plata andneighboring coastal areas (Buenos Aires, Argentina) during the winter of 2018 (n ¼ 22) and 2019 (n ¼ 34).Hematocrit, red blood cells (erythrocytes), hemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), MCHconcentration, white blood cells (WBC; leukocytes), heterophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, andbasophils were analyzed. Additionally, the variability of hematologic metrics according to body weight, sex, age,and calendar year was examined. Hematologic metrics were in line with those reported in other seabird species.Males had greater body weight and MCH than females. The heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte levelswere higher in adults than in immatures. Hematocrit, WBC, heterophils, and basophils also varied significantlybetween calendar years. The results highlight the importance of appropriate metrics and reference intervals formonitoring the health status of this threatened species, and it is recommended to implement such comparativeassessments among populations.