HISTOMORPHOMETRY OF ERYTHROCYTES AND LEUKOCYTES ALSO DIFFERENTIAL LEUKOCYTE COUNT IN BROWN HAWK OWL (NINOX SCUTULATA)

Abstract

Ninox scutulataor Brown Hawk Owl is one of the owl species spread across Indonesia and plays a role as a predator of rodents in agricultural areas. Until now, information regarding blood cell histomorphometry and differential leukocyte count of Ninox scutulatais still very limited. This study aims to describe the morphology, histomorphometry of blood cells, and differential leukocyte count as basic hematological data of Ninox scutulata. The study used 10 Ninox scutulata kept at the Owl Tower Bali conservation center. Blood smear preparations stained with the Romanowsky method were observed microscopically for histomorphometric measurements of erythrocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, basophils, and eosinophils. Histomorphometry includes parameters of area, perimeter, and diameter. Data were analyzed descriptively using the mean, standard deviation, median, minimum value, and maximum value. The results of the study showed that erythrocytes were oval with a central nucleus, lymphocytes were round with a large nucleus, monocytes had a reniform nucleus, heterophils had a bilobed nucleus with rod-shaped to oval granules, basophils had dense dark blue to dark purple granules, while eosinophils had a bilobed nucleus with round, bright red granules. Histomorphometry showed that erythrocytes had the largest size, followed by heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Differential leukocyte count examination showed that heterophils were the leukocytes with the highest percentage, followed by lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils. This study provides a basic data overview of morphology, histomorphometry, and differential leukocyte count in Ninox scutulatawhich can be used as a reference in evaluating the health of the Ninox scutulataspecies of owl.