Hematologic responses in captive white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica), induced by various radiotransmitter attachments.

ABSTRACT

White blood cell counts, heterophil-lymphocyte ratios, and leukocyte differentials of captive white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) from Texas equipped with different radiotransmitter attachment packages were monitored. Doves were segregated by gender and age by males, females, and hatching year; individuals housed in 30 large outdoor pens in groups of seven. Treatments consisted of controls, glue-on transmitters, body loop harnesses, surgically implanted intracoelomic transmitters, surgically implanted subcutaneous transmitters, intracoelomic surgery without implants, and subcutaneous surgery without implants. We used multivariate analysis of variance with pen as a blocking variable and gender nested and repeated measures analysis of variance to identify differences among any of the transmitter attachment techniques and the control for dependent variables. We found no difference in blood parameters between transmitter attachment technique versus a control.