title: Effect of age, sex and physiological stages on hematological indices of Banni buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the physiological baseline values for hematological indices of Banni buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as well as to assess their alteration due to age, sex and physiological stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 clinically healthy Banni buffaloes were categorized into seven groups (n=6): Group I (male calves ≤1 year), Group II (bulls >1 year), Group III (female calves ≤1 year), Group IV (pregnant lactating buffaloes), Group V (non-pregnant lactating buffaloes), Group VI (pregnant dry buffaloes), and Group VII (non-pregnant dry buffaloes). Blood samples collected aseptically from all the experimental groups were analyzed employing automated hematology analyzer. The data obtained were statistically analyzed; the mean and standard deviations were calculated and set as the reference values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The erythrocytic indices viz. total erythrocytes count (TEC), hemoglobin, and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly higher in bulls as compared to that of male calves unlike mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and MCH concentration. The female calves had higher TEC and PCV than the adult buffaloes irrespective of sex. The total leukocyte count (TLC) and neutrophil counts in male calves were significantly lower than the bulls unlike the eosinophil, while monocyte and basophil remained unchanged with age. The TLC, differential leukocyte count and platelet count varied non-significantly among the adult female groups at different physiological stages. However, neutrophils were found to be apparently higher in lactating buffaloes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study would be helpful for physiological characterization of this unique buffalo breed of Gujarat. Further, data generated may be a tool for monitoring the health and prognosis as well as diagnosis of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada-385506, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Mehul D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada-385506, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lateef
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada-385506, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Hemen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand- 388110, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Ajay S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada-385506, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Ajay G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada-385506, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Axay B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Joshi
keywords: age; banni; erythrocytic; lactation; leukocytic indices; pregnancy; sex