Comparative haematology of Vanaraja , Nicobari fowls and their various F crosses under hot humid climate of Andaman and 1 Nicobar Islands , India

Aim: In the present experiment, the haematological parameters of Vanaraja, Nicobari fowls (Black, Brown and White) and their six F crosses were evaluated. Four erythrocyte traits, six leukocyte traits and one platelet trait were assessed. 1 Materials and Methods: Blood samples (1 ml) were collected from the wing vein of each adult bird using 2 ml disposable syringe and then directly transferred to labeled test tube containing anticoagulant EDTA (2 mg EDTA/ml of blood). All haematological parameters were measured using by an instrument named Cell Counter Analyzer MS9-5V (Melet Schloesing Laboratories). Results: Variations among different genetic groups and sex were found in respect to different haematological parameters studied. Red blood cell (RBC) concentration of Vanaraja female was found to be very high. White blood cell (WBC) concentration of Black Nicobari X Vanaraja female was significantly lower than all the other groups except Brown Nicobari female. Platelet count of Vanaraja X White Nicobari male was significantly higher than all the other groups except White Nicobari male, Vanaraja X Black Nicobari male, male and female of Brown Nicobari X Vanaraja, male and female of Vanaraja X Brown Nicobari and White Nicobari X Vanaraja male. Conclusions: The haematological parameters of Vanaraja, Nicobari fowls and their F crosses were investigated and 1 compared. The results of the study will be helpful for accurate interpretation of haematological tests of the poultry genotypes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.


Introduction
indigenous chicken breeds of India [5].They are resistant to some of the deadliest diseases of poultry Analysis of blood profile has been used routinely and very much adaptable to the local conditions of as a guide in the diagnosis of diseases in both human these Islands [6][7].Three varieties of Nicobari fowl are being and animals [1].Change in haematological generally found i.e.White, Black and Brown.Vanaraja parameters is an important tool to access the level of is another very good dual purpose breed recently stresses due to environment and nutritional factors [2] introduced in these Islands.Recent study also suggests and provide useful information on the immune status of that adaptability of Vanaraja to the local environment animals [3].Certain haematological parameters are of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are less compared to well established markers of certain production traits in Nicobari fowls [7].poultry, such as high packed cell volume (PCV) and Blood profiles of Vanaraja and Nicobari fowls high Hb (HGB) are associated with high feed under the worm humid tropical condition of Andaman conversion ration (FCR) and high serum protein and Nicobar islands are very essential for accurate indicates good feathering ability and tissue growth in interpretation of haematological tests.As no inforpoultry [4].High level of circulating lymphocytes is an mation on these aspects was available, the present study indicator of the ability of the birds to survive in was designed to determine haematological parameters stressful conditions.Such information, apart from of the Vanaraja, Nicobari fowls and their various F 1 being useful for diagnostic purposes, could equally be crosses under the local environment of Andaman and incorporated into breeding programs for genetic up Nicobar Islands.gradation of indigenous poultry.
Nicobari fowl is an indigenous and endemic breed X Van female was significantly lower in comparison to conditions were provided according to the recommenall the other groups except Van male, BrN male, Van X ded standards.
WN male, WN X Van female, Van X BN male, BN X

Sampling procedures and measurement of haemato-
Van male and male and female of BrN X Van.MCV of logical traits: Blood samples were collected from the BrN X Van was significantly lower than BN male but wing vein of each adult bird using 2 ml disposable did not vary significantly with any other groups and no syringe and then directly transferred to labeled test tube significant variations were found among any other containing anticoagulant EDTA (2mg/ml of blood).
groups in respect to MCV.HCT values of Van X BN Blood samples from birds were collected in the early male and BN X Van female were significantly lower in morning.The blood samples were used for measuring comparison to the values of Van female, WN male, BN the haematological values within 1 hour of collection.
male and female, BrN female, Van X WN female, WN Haematological parameters such as total red blood X Van male, Van X BN female and Van X BrN female.cells (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), packed cell HGB values of Van X WN male, WN X Van male and volume (PCV) or haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular Van X BN male were significantly higher in volume (MCV), differential leukocyte count and throcomparison to Van   was significantly higher in comparison to all the other ecotypes of chicken of Sudan (Betwil, Bare Neck and groups except WN female, male and female of BN, Van Large Beladi) whereas RBC and MCV varied X BrN female, and WN X Van female.Mon % of BN significantly [11].In the present study, significant male was significantly higher in comparison to BrN variation between male and female was found in female, BN X Van female but did not vary significantly respect to different haematological parameters which with that of all other groups.Het % of Van female, BrN is consistent with the result reported in three ecotypes feale, Van X BN male, WN X Van male, Van X WN of chicken of Sudan [11].MCV values in male broilers male were significantly higher than BN X Van female were found higher than that in females and but did not vary significantly with other groups.Eos % eosinophiles content was higher in females [12]. of Van X BN female and BrN X Van female were Mmereole [2] reported that among the four broiler significantly higher in comparison to all ther other breeds (Arbor-Acre, Ross, Marshal and Cobb), Ross groups except Van X BrN male and WN X Van male.
was significantly superior to the other breeds in terms Bas % of BN X Van female was significantly lower in of RBC, PCV, HGB, and MCHC values while Marshal comparison to all the groups except Van X WN male had significantly higher values of MCV and MCH than and Van X BrN female.Platelet count of Van X WN the other breeds.Hematological parameters in male was significantly higher than all the other groups Fayoumi, Assil and Local Chickens of different ages except WN male, Van X BN male, male and female of reared in Sylhet region of Bangladesh were estimated BrN X Van, male and female of Van X Br N and WN X and comapred which relealed that the RBC Van male.concentration was higher in Fayoumi, the hemoglobin concentration was high in Assil and the PCV was Discussion slightly different or similar in all three breeds [13].In the present study, significant variations in Comparative Studies on haematological values of haematological parameters were found among broiler Strains (Ross, Cobb, Arbor-acres and Arian) different genetic groups of chickens.Variation in was conducted by Talebi et al. [1] in which he they haematological parameters of Nigerian native chicken reported that as age of birds increases.increasing of varieties i.e. normal frizzle-feathered, naked-neck, and age, the erythrocytic parameters (except MCV, MCH, normal feathered native chickens was reported by and MCHC) and leukocytic parameters (except Peters et al. [9].It was found that male birds generally heterophils and H/L ratio) were significantly increased had higher mean values of all the haematological (P<0.01).However., but MCV, MCH and absolute parameters than their female counterparts across all count of heterophils as well as H/L ratio were genotypes [9].In a study on comparative haematology significantly decreased with the age (P<0.01). of different species of poultry by Pandian et al. [10] Conclusion highest haemoglobin and PCV was reported in Aseel (12.90 and 30.16 respectively) and highest RBC In conclusion, significant variations in blood concentration was found in Kadakanath (2.96).HGB parameters were found among different genetic groups and PCV were not significantly different among three of chickens viz.Vanaraja, Nicobari fowls and their All the collected data were analyzed with the SAS Software Release 8.2 with the Leukocytic and thrombocytic values: Comparative Proc GLM and Proc CORR procedures [8].The GLM leukocytic and Thrombocytic parameters of Vanaraja, procedure uses the method of least squares to fit Nicobari fowls and their various F crosses are 1 general linear models.PROC GLM analyzes data presented in Table-2.WBC concentration of BN X Van within the framework of General linear models.PROC female was significantly lower than all the other groups GLM handles models relating one or several except BrN female.The Lumphocyte % of BN X Van

Table - 1
. Comparative haematological parameters (Erythrocytes) of Vanaraja, Nicobari fowls and their various F crosses Values are expressed as Mean±S.E.M, MCV: Mean corpuscular volume; HCT: Hematocrit, HGB: Hemoglobin concentration ABCDEF Values in different superscripts in the same column differ significantly (p<0.05)