Sheep Hematology from Birth to Maturity II. Leukocyte Concentration and Differential Distribution

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Abstract
Over 10,000 observations related to total leukocyte counts and leukocyte differential distribution were made on the blood of 316 Hampshire, Shropshire and Suffolk sheep from birth to maturity. Samples were taken at birth, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hr.; 5, 8 and 14 days; 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 12 months, at 2, 3½ and 4½ months gestation, at parturition and on the 14th day of lactation. Total leukocyte concentration doubled from birth (3032/mm.3) to 12 hr., declined at 48 hr. and rose to a peak at 3 months (9525/mm.3). Segmented neutrophils comprised 34% of the differential leukocyte count at birth, rose to 52% at 12 hr. and declined to 16% at 12 months. The relative lymphocyte and monocyte concentration was generally the inverse of that of the segmented neutrophils. Relative eosinophil concentrations were highest in the blood of ewes during gestation and dropped markedly at parturition in a manner typical of the reaction to stress. Basophils comprised a low proportion of the differential count at all ages. Copyright © 1965. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1965 by American Society of Animal Science

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