Haemato-biochemical profile of apparently healthy domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria

Abstract

Performing comprehensive health assessment on turkey populations enables one to determine their responses to physiological factors such as sex, breed and environmental stressors. The haemato-biochemical parameters of 58 apparently healthy domestic turkeys of varying breeds and sexes, raised by small scale turkey farmers in Nsukka metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria and the physiological factors (sex and breed) that influence them were determined. All haemato-biochemical procedures were carried out following standard procedures. The mean for the haemato-biochemical parameters were as follows: packed cell volume 30.70 ± 0.63 %; red blood cell count 3.75 ± 0.22 x 10⁶/μl; hemoglobin concentration 12.95 ± 0.62 g/dl; total leukocyte count 3.67 ± 0.09 x 10³ /μl; heterophil 2.24 ± 10³/μl; lymphocyte 1.36 ± 0.06 x 10³/μl; monocyte 0.03 ± 0.00 x 103/μl; eosinophil 0.10 ± 0.02 x 103/μl; basophil 0.01 ± 0.00 x 10³/μl; aspartate aminotransferase 73.99 ± 5.40 IU/L; alanine aminotransferase 11.00 ± 2.12 IU/L; alkaline phosphatase 165.19 ± 15.77 IU/L; total proteins 4.64 ± 0.17 g/dl; albumin 2.54 ± 0.12 g/dl; globulin 2.11 ± 0.12 g/dl; cholesterol 157.83 ± 12.81 mg/dl; creatinine 0.98 ± 0.11 mg/dl; uric acid 5.62 ± 0.45 mg/dl. There were no sex-related variations in all the studied haematological and biochemical parameters. It was also found that the local breed had significantly higher (p<0.05) monocyte numbers than the foreign breed (Nicholas large white). This study shall form a basis for establishing haematobiochemical reference range of values for clinical and scientific uses by avian clinicians for turkey populations in Nsukka.

Keywords: Haematology, Biochemicals, Domestic turkeys, Nsukka metropolis