BLOOD PLASMA BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF CAPTIVE BLACK-NECKED PHEASANT (PHASIANUS COLCHICUS), GRAY PARTRIDGE (PERDIX PERDIX) AND CHUKAR PARTRIDGE (ALECTORIS CHUKAR) OF BOTH SEXES IN BULGARIA

In the study, 36 (n=12 by species, n=6 by sex) blood samples were taken from a captive, adult, clinically healthy, Black-necked pheasants or Southern Caucasus pheasants (Phasianus col. colchicus), Gray partridge (Perdix perdix), and Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) for plasma biochemical analyses. The investigated plasma biochemical parameters were Creatinine, Uric acid, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Significant differences (P<0.05) among both sexes were found in the activity of ALT in Black-necked pheasants. Creatinine levels are relatively close in value between the sexes in all three species, slightly higher in males. Uric acid values in male birds are much higher than in female game birds in all three species. AST and ALT activities in male pheasants were higher when compared to the females, while the trend was reversed in sex at Gray partridges.