Haematological changes in male and female pharaoh quails (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) after Ekatin intoxication.

The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the blood of pharaoh quails after Ekatin intoxication, to define the duration of disturbances caused by intoxication and to examine possible sex differences in the birds' reaction to intoxication. It was found that Ekatin reduced the number of erythrocytes, haemoglobin level and haematocrit value, increased erythroblast and reticulocyte numbers and increased the osmotic resistance of blood cells. It was shown that this pesticide caused neutrophilic leucocytosis with lymphopaenia and eosinopaenia. In males changes in the blood appeared far earlier than in females and they underwent compensation earlier, that is, 3 weeks after intoxication the majority of the haemotological parameters reached values similar to the control.