Biochemical and haematological blood parameters of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) in Tunisian breeding.

Reference serum biochemical and haematological Values were determined in bl ood samples from 54 ostriches (Struthio-camelus), 31 males and 21 females. Parametric reference ranges and the influence of sex and age were determine d : in biochemistry for enzyme activity : ALAT, ASAT, CK, PAL, LDH and concentr ation of organic phosphate, calcium, sodium, potassium, glucose, uric acid urea creatinine, triglycerid, cholesterol and total protein. and in haematology for red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin, pla telets, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concent ration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), haematocrit and differen tial leucocytes count. For biochemical, a difference statistically significant in function of the sex for creatinine and triglycerid, and in function of the age for organic phosphate, sodium, uric acid, creatinine, total protein and ASAT are detect ed (p < 0.05) For haematological, a difference statistically significant in function of t he sex for the platelets and in function of the age for the MCV and MCHC ar e detected. These reference ranges for serum biochemical and haematological analysis of ostriches can be used as the reference basis for detecting metabolic and n utritional disorders in this kind.