González Fernando, Perez-Luzardo Octavio, Revuelta Luis, Suárez-Regalado Laura, Moraleda-Fernández Virginia, Carrero-Ruíz Alicia, Del Río Laura
Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat (GREFA), Monte del Pilar, Majadahonda, 28220, Madrid, Spain.
Sección Departamental de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 May 15;21(1):342. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04790-0.
Haematological and clinical biochemistry analyses are essential tools for evaluating the health status of avian species, including the endangered Bonelli's eagle. Despite their importance, existing reference intervals (RIs) for such parameters in raptor species are frequently constrained by limited sample sizes, thus complicating clinical interpretations. This research followed the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) guidelines to establish haematological and clinical biochemistry reference intervals for the Bonelli's eagle, utilizing an indirect approach. Conservation initiatives of the Bonelli's eagle have provided a unique opportunity to gather a high number of samples under various conditions, facilitating a comprehensive comparison between wild and captive populations. Over the course of six years, from 2016 to 2021, our research analyzed 516 blood samples collected within the framework of a European Life Project. After rigorous data cleaning and stringent selection criteria application, a representative sample of 184 birds was determined. Various physiological parameters and blood lead levels were quantified in healthy individuals. Additionally, we used Principal Component Analysis to discern distinctions between populations and to investigate potential interrelationships among the diverse parameters.
We established Reference Intervals for three distinct reference groups of birds: wild nestlings ( ), captive nestlings ( ), and adults ( ). Our findings indicate that age significantly affects many blood parameters. Meanwhile, gender impacts only a few parameters in adult birds. Notably, wild nestlings exhibited higher levels of AST, K, TP, and Pb in their blood compared to those bred in captivity.
This paper provides the first reliable RI for physiological, haematological, and clinical biochemistry parameters in both nestling and adult Bonelli's eagles. The data will augment the knowledge of the physiology of this endangered raptor, contributing significantly to the understanding and monitoring of both free-living birds and captivity programs.
血液学和临床生化分析是评估鸟类健康状况的重要工具，包括濒危的白肩雕。尽管这些参数很重要，但猛禽物种此类参数的现有参考区间常常受到样本量有限的限制，从而使临床解读变得复杂。本研究遵循美国兽医临床病理学会（ASVCP）的指南，采用间接方法为白肩雕建立血液学和临床生化参考区间。白肩雕的保护计划提供了一个独特的机会，可以在各种条件下收集大量样本，便于对野生和圈养种群进行全面比较。在2016年至2021年的六年时间里，我们的研究分析了在一个欧洲生命项目框架内收集的516份血液样本。经过严格的数据清理和严格应用选择标准后，确定了184只鸟的代表性样本。对健康个体的各种生理参数和血铅水平进行了量化。此外，我们使用主成分分析来辨别种群之间的差异，并研究不同参数之间的潜在相互关系。
我们为三个不同的鸟类参考组建立了参考区间：野生雏鸟（ ）、圈养雏鸟（ ）和成年鸟（ ）。我们的研究结果表明，年龄对许多血液参数有显著影响。同时，性别仅对成年鸟类的少数参数有影响。值得注意的是，与圈养繁殖的雏鸟相比，野生雏鸟血液中的谷草转氨酶、钾、总蛋白和铅水平更高。
本文首次为雏鸟和成年白肩雕的生理、血液学和临床生化参数提供了可靠的参考区间。这些数据将增加对这种濒危猛禽生理学的了解，对理解和监测自由生活鸟类及圈养项目做出重大贡献。
