THE EFFECT OF DRIED STRAWBERRY LEAVES ON HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF RABBITS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dried strawberry leaves inclusion on selected haematological parameters of rabbits: white blood cell, red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, platelets, mean platelet volume, red cell distribution width, lymphocytes, mid cells total count, granulocytes, haematocrit, platelet distribution width. Thirty rabbits of broiler line Californian were used in this experiment. The animals were divided into the four groups, four animals in each one (control group C and experimental groups E1, E2 and E3). Animals were fed ad libitum using KKV1 feeding mixture (FM) with or without strawberry leave inclusion as follows: group E1 received feed mixture with concentration of 0.5 % strawberry leaves group E2 1.0 % and group E3 1.5 %. Blood was collected into tubes and the parameters were analysed using Abacus Junior Vet. Statistical analyse showed a significant change (P < 0.05) in mean platelet volume between group C and E1 and between group C and E2. Increase of this parameter was detected in all groups in comparison with the control group. Other haematological parameters were without significant differences (P>0.05). Strawberry leaves as a source of antioxidants altered haematological parameters according to our expectations. This study presents only partial results of continuing experiment.