Hematocrit and blood chemistry values in hornbills

10januari2007
Source: A. Villegas, et al, Zoo Biology, Volume 25, Issue 1, Pages 1-9
This study reports hematocrit and blood chemistry values for captive adult individuals belonging to three genera of hornbills (Bucerotidae), Aceros, Anthracoceros, and Ceratogymna, and evaluates genera and gender specific differences in these values.

Ceratogymna differs significantly from the other two genera in the concentration of total proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Blood glucose concentrations in Aceros were lower than those in the other two genera. Plasma levels of enzymes differed between Aceros and Ceratogymna. With respect to gender differences, Aceros males had greater plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), calcium and phosphorus than did the females, and the Ceratogymna males had higher concentrations of triglycerides. Body mass was correlated with hematocrit, cholesterol, total proteins, and urea in Aceros and with calcium concentration in Ceratogymna. These results are the first data available on reference ranges of blood values in individuals of this family of birds and may therefore be very useful as a complementary diagnostic tool in the veterinary care of individuals of these species in captivity.