SERUM CHEMISTRY AND ANTIBODY STATUS TO SOME AVIAN PATHOGENS OF FREE-LIVING AND CAPTIVE CONDORS (VULTUR GRYPHUS) OF CENTRAL CHILE

This study provides information on serology and serum chemistry of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus). Twenty condors living under natural c onditions were captured, blood sampled, measured, and released. In add ition, 12 captive condors maintained at the Metropolitan Zoo of Santia go, Chile, were included as a comparison with free-living birds. All s era were negative to antibodies against reference strains of avian par amyxoviruses of serotypes 1 to 9, avian influenza and avian pox virus. Free-living condors had total protein, albumin, globulin and Mg value s significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower than those of cap tive birds. The haematological values obtained in free-living condors are of particular interest since they may correspond to the optimum va lues of the species.