[Leukocytes in the blood of Polish cattle from small herds and evaluation of the leukocyte count from the standpoint of diagnosing leukemia].

Blood examinations of cattle were performed in the provinces of Lublin, Cracow and Rzeszów, comprizing 252 animals aged up to 9 years. In the single blood samples were estimated: the level of leukocytes and the absolute and relative content of lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes. The mean values calculated for one=year classes of age showed in many cases a decreasing tendency according to the maturation and aging of the animals. This phenomenon concerned the following parameters: the total number of leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes, as well as the lymphocyte percentage. On the contrary, the mean values of the absolute and relative numbers of eosinophils demonstrated an increasing tendency. The other parameters did not show any distinct connection with the age. The values calculated and presented in three table are similar to analogous figures characterizing the cattle from big herds. The conclusion may be drawn from these results that haematological diagnosis of bovine leukosis in small herds can be based on the criteria established for big herds.