Short Communication

Simaraks, S., Chinrasri, O. and Aengwanich, S. Hematological, electrolyte and serum biochemical values of the Thai indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) in northeastern, Thailand Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol., 2004, 26(3) : 425-430 Thai indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) have been domesticated in rural villages in Thailand for a long time. These birds are important to low-income people who live in the rural part of Thailand. However, health problems have been a major cause limiting their population. Hematological, electrolyte and serum biochemical values, which are important for diagnosis of clinical signs and symptoms when affected by diseases, are limited. Blood samples from 40 chickens (20 males and 20 females) were used for hematological test while another 18 samples (from 10 males and 8 females) were analysed for electrolyte and serum biochemical values. The samples were obtained from Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces, northeastern region of Thailand. The results revealed the following information: total red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, lymphocyte, heterophil, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, H:L ratio values of Thai native chickens 1D.V.M., Ph.D. (Physiology of Reproduction), Assoc. Prof., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, 2M.Sc. (Animal Science), 3D.V.M. (Physiology), Division of Animal Production Technology, Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand. Corresponding e-mail: [email protected] Received, 21 August 2003 Accepted, 14 January 2004 Hematological, electrolyte and serum biochemical values of the Thai indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) in northeastern, Thailand Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. Vol. 26 No. 3 May-Jun. 2004 426 Thai indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Thailand Aengwanich, W. et al. were 2.26 ± 0.29 × 106 cells/μl, 8.89 ± 1.20 g/dl, 32.18 ± 4.46%, 144.63 ± 18.61 fl, 39.69 ± 4.96 pg, 27.86 ± 3.37 g/dl, 2.04 ± 0.45 × 104 cells/μl, 63.68 ± 9.36%, 23.70 ± 7.21%, 4.20 ± 3.20%, 5.83 ± 3.53%, 2.65 ± 2.09% and 0.40 ± 0.17, respectively. Potassium, sodium and chloride values of Thai native chickens were 5.3 ± 0.8 mmol/l, 155.9 ± 3.1 mmol/l and 116.9 ± 2.7 mmol/l, respectively. Furthermore, serum biochemistry values of Thai native chickens such as total protein, glucose, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, calcium and cholesterol were 4.6 ± 1.0 mg/dl, 190.2 ± 29.8 mg/dl, 235.9 ± 68.6 U/L, 5.0 ± 1.9 mg/dl, 10.4 ± 1.2 mg/dl and 102.4 ± 30.8 mg/dl, respectively. Besides, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and eosinophil in the males were significantly higher than in the females Thai indigenous chickens (P<0.05), lymphocyte counts of the females were significantly higher than the males (P<0.05). From serum biochemical values, potassium, sodium, total protein and uric acid of female indigenous birds were significantly higher than males (P<0.05).