Cytology of Bone Marrow Haematopoietic Cells of Village Weavers ( Ploceus cucullatus )

In order to study the cellular morphology and Myeloid/Erythroid (M/E) ratio in the bone marrow of the adult village weaver birds ( Ploceus cucullatus ), bone marrow samples were collected from the proximal tibiotarsus bone of 30 clinically-healthy adult village weaver birds during post mortem. The bone marrow smears were fixed and stained using the Romanowsky Giemsa Stain (RGS), then viewed microscopically. Blood samples were also collected ante mortem for routine haematological examination. The results showed that the mean M/E ratio was 0.19, the mean erythroid cell percentage was 72.93, the mean myeloid cell percentage was 19.8 and the mean percentage of all other cells was 0.33. The Myeloid/Erythroid (M/E) ratio obtained from this study is comparable to that of quails. The morphology and distribution of blood cells in the bone marrow of adult village weaver birds were similar with reports from other birds such as ducks and black-head gull. Other findings from this study are comparable to existing data in the literature. The peripheral blood evaluation was within reference ranges. There is need to further determine the mean sizes of all cells of the bone marrow of village weaver birds and compare with that of other birds.