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Abstract
This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of the avian basophilic leukocyte. It includes a description of the general morphology of the cell derived from light and electron microscopy. The relative and absolute counts of basophils in different species are described, including the current status of the cytochemical constituents in their characteristic granules. The role of the basophil during the acute inflammatory response following exposure to non-infectious and infectious agents is examined. In birds basophils appear to play an important role in early inflammatory and immediate hypersensitivity reactions, but differ from those in mammals by not contributing to delayed hypersensitivity. They are crucial participants in cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity reactions and in passive cutaneous and systemic anaphylaxis. The role of the basophil in the stress response in birds is discussed. When some birds are exposed to severe stress a basophilia develops – a physiological response that may be unique to birds.