Hematology and blood chemistry reference values in wildlife animals are considered a key element to evaluate their health and welfare status. The incidence of birds rescued is increasing, thus, rehabilitation centers worldwide need valid reference values to improve medical care for wild individuals. The objective of this study was to obtain the reference values of the adult black-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis). Blood was taken from adult rehabilitated birds and analyzed to obtain red and white line values such as hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. Values for blood glucose, proteins, albumin, globulin, calcium, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and albumin:globulin (A/G) ratio were also obtained. The results were similar to others reported for species of the Threskiornithidae family (bald, glossy and Puna ibises), but showed higher values for white blood cells (WBC), heterophils, monocytes and heterophil-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, but lower values for basophils and eosinophils. Moreover, higher values in albumin, BUN and CPK were observed. This is the first report of the hematology references values for the black-faced ibis showing differences to other closely related species. The results may be of use in rescue and rehabilitation centers for animal welfare and health assessments of the black-faced ibis.
Keywords: conservation health; ecosystems; rehabilitation; wild bird health; wild bird welfare.