Morphology and morphometrics of hematological cells from eastern sarus crane, Grus antigone sharpii

The population of the eastern sarus crane (Grus antigone sharpii) has been greatly reduced both in distribution and number, and documents presenting the blood cell characteristics and morphometric data of blood cells in this kind of bird are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the morphometric and morphological aspects of the blood cells of the eastern sarus crane using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the blood cell characteristics of the eastern sarus crane, i.e., the red blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, and thrombocytes presented a distinct morphology. The morphology of the blood cells of the eastern sarus crane was similar to those of other cranes in the previous report. Moreover, the blood cells of the eastern sarus crane had shown some similarities and differences when compared to other avians, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Regarding the SEM finding, the lymphocytes were round cells with a rough membrane. The monocytes were larger than the lymphocytes, and the membrane surface of the lymphocytes was different from that of the monocytes. The heterophils were round with fine regular spherical spines on the membrane surface. The basophils were tiny round cells with a rough membrane surface, and a few spines protruded from the membrane surface. The eosinophils were round cells with many spherical spines protruding from their membrane surface. The thrombocytes had a pancake-like oval shape with a spread monolayer. The characteristic differences between the eastern sarus crane and other animals were the dimension and granule morphology.