Morphology and cytochemical patterns of peripheral blood cells in domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia) is one of few domesticated birds with an important economic value. In this study, a comprehensive investigation on the morphology and cytochemical patterns of peripheral blood cells in domestic pigeons were conducted by using wright's and various cytochemical staining techniques including periodic acid-Schiff(PAS), sudan black B(SBB), peroxidase(POX), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), acid phosphatase(ACP), chloroacetic acid AS-D naphthol esterase(AS-D) and α-naphthol acetate esterase(α-NAE) staining. Besides erythrocytes and thrombocytes, five types of leukocytes were identified: heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Lymphocytes were the most abundant leukocytes, followed by heterophils, eosinophils, monocytes; basophils were the fewest. Erythrocytes and thrombocytes were positive for PAS, and negative for all the other cytochemical staining. Heterophils and eosinophils exhibited positive to all cytochemical staining except for α-NAE. Basophils exhibited strongly positive for POX and AS-D, positive for PAS and ALP, while negative for SBB, ACP and α-NAE staining. Monocytes exhibited positive for PAS and α-NAE, and weakly positive for ACP, while negative for SBB, POX, ALP and AS-D staining. Lymphocytes showed positive for PAS and ACP, weakly positive for AS-D, while negative for SBB, POX, ALP and α-NAE staining. Our results add up knowledge about the domestic pigeon blood cells.