THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

and Philippine-Murrah in health. Eight erythrocytic forms,
which basically differed in morphology, were identified and
included discocyte, dacryocyte, echinocyte, macrocyte,
microcyte, ovalocyte, torocyte and kenicyte. Cytoplasmic
inclusions observed from the samples were basophilic
stippling, Heinz bodies and Howell-Jolly bodies. The
presence of erythrocytic variants in the peripheral blood
smears of the animals in this study indicated that these
variants might be normal observations. No abnormalities
in the systems of each individual water buffalo could account
for the presence of these cells of different morphology. This
study on erythrocyte morphology attempted to standardize
the normal quantity of different red cell forms and inclusions
for future investigations.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, Philippine-Murrah,
erythrocyte morphology, inclusion bodies
*Undergraduate thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, 1999.
P-22
SERUM PROTEIN VALUES OF PHILIPPINE NATIVE
CARABAO AND CATTLE*
M. P. Ramos, Student
This study aimed to determine the total serum protein of
Philippine native Carabao and cattle using refractometer
and spectrophotometer. A total of 60 apparently healthy and
sexually mature animals were used in the study comprising
30 carabao and 30 cattle with 15 males and 15 females
each. Results showed that with refractometer, total serum
protein at 99% confidence level of significance was 6.9 ±
0.4 gm/dl and 6.1 ± 1.5 gm/dl for male and female
carabaos, respectively. While in cattle, the male value
was 6.9 ± 0.6 gm/dl and 6.3 ± 0.3 gm/dl for female. Using
spectrophotometer, the obtained confidence internal at 99%
level of significance were 7.1 ± 0.5 gm/dl and 7.2 ± 1.0
gm/dl for male and female carabaos respectively. In cattle,
the value for male was 7.7 ± 1.0 gm/dl and 7.4 ± 0.7 gm/
dl for female. Philippine native Carabao total serum proteins
were all statistically the same compared to the total serum
proteins of cattle. The total serum protein between sexes
proved to be significantly different when using
spectrophotometer. No significant difference was observed
in males while highly significant difference was observed
in females in both Philippine Carabao and cattle.
Keywords: total serum protein, Philippine Carabao, cattle,
spectrophotometer
*Undergraduate thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Central Luzon State University, 1996.
PHYSIOLOGY
P-23
RUMEN JUICE CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILIPPINE
SWAMP BUFFALOES (Bubalus bubalis)*
J. C. Rosario, Student
Ten (10) native swamp buffaloes were used to examine
the rumen juice based on nine parameters namely: color,
odor, consistency, sedimentation and flotation, pH test,
protozoa quality test, bacterial content, methylene blue test
and glucose test. Results showed three types of rumen
juice color: pure green, green with grayish shade, and
golden brown to brown color. Pure green and green with
grayish shade colors were observed to have aromatic
odors while the brown colored samples gave an ammonia
odor. For rumen juice consistency, all the samples showed
a consistency which was lighter than the human saliva.
The average time for sedimentation and flotation in both
samples with colors pure green and green with grayish
shade was 5 minutes and 7 minutes, respectively.
However, for the brown colored samples, the average
time it took for the particles to settle and fibers to float was
longer (8 minutes for sedimentation and 10 minutes for
flotation). The pH of the pure green and brown colored
samples was basic, while the green with grayish shade
were acidic. The protozoa density revealed that the large,
medium and small protozoa were seen in the pure green
and the green with grayish shade while a thinner
concentration of protozoa was observed in the brown color.
Bacterial content of the rumen juice after staining showed
both Gram (+) and Gram (-) organisms in the pure green
samples while only Gram (+) for the two other colors. The
average time of colors pure green and green with grayish
shade in the methylene blue test was 3 minutes while the
average time of the brown color was 5 minutes.
Keywords: rumen juice, swamp buffalo, clinical pathology
*Undergraduate thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Central Luzon State University, 1993.
P-24
INFLUENCE OF DRAFTWORK, DAYLIGHT HEAT
AND PARASITIC LOAD ON THE MEAN EOSINOPHIL
COUNT OF ADULT MALE PHILIPPINE SWAMP
BUFFALOES (Bubalus bubalis)*
E. F. San Pedro, Student
Thirty mature male Philippine swamp buffaloes were used
in the study. Fresh fecal samples for fecalysis and blood
smears to determine the eosinophil percentage were
collected for two consecutive days during the pre-
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