Histology and histomorphometric study of selected immune organs in twenty day-old Chukar Partridge

Considering the important role of lymphatic tissues in Bids' health and the scarce knowledge about histological features of partridge as an industrial species in Iran, the present study investigates histological parameters of lymphatic organs of partridge. Thirty 20-days-old male partridges that were reared under similar conditions were used. Data were presented as Mean±SD. Samples from Thymus, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen, cecal tonsils and pylorus tonsils were collected. After fixation and routine histological laboratory methods, 6μm-thick transverse sections were made. The sections were stained with Haematoxylin and eosin and studied under light microscope, also histomorphometric parameters were measured by a linear graticule. Cecal tonsil had a structure consisting of follicular units with a fossula within each follicular unit. The average height of the follicular unit was 1.14±0.11mm, the follicular unit width was 0.31±0.06mm. The bursa of Fabricius was consisting of long thick mucosal folds (plicae). Plicae height was 2.99±0.30mm, the follicular width was 0.49±0.02mm. Thymus has incompletely separated lobules that diameters of the lobules was 0.60±0.07mm. The red pulp of spleen was in the middle of the white pulp. The white pulp thickness was 0.20±0.00mm. The pyloric tonsil has sub mucosal follicles with 0.24 ± 0.44 mm width.Conclusion In conclusion the present study shows that lymphatic organs of partridges have similarity with that of chickens although with regard to histomorphometric data the lymphatic structures are more extensive in partridges which may describe relatively high immunologic competency in this species.