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Serum biochemical analytes in captive Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis)
Daniela Magalhães Drummond de Mello1, Vera da Silva, Fernando Rosas
1Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. danielamello@hotmail.com
Background:
Establishment of reference values for serum biochemical analytes is important for monitoring health and physiological status of captive animals.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to measure and report ranges for serum biochemical analytes in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis).
Methods:
Blood samples were collected from 24 healthy captive Amazonian manatees that comprised a mixture of adults, subadults, and calves and males and females; serum analytes were measured and analyzed using a dry reagent bench-top chemical analyzer. Comparisons were made between sexes and with previously published values of closely related species.
Results:
Medians and ranges (minimum-maximum) of values for the analytes were: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 151 (111-278) U/L (n=20); creatine kinase, 144 (76-315) U/L (n=11); alanine aminotransferase, 10 (2-28) U/L (n=18); aspartate aminotransferase, 14 (5-28) U/L (n=21); γ-glutamyltransferase, 47 (36-73) U/L (n=21); amylase, 1428 (1010-1874) U/L (n=21); alkaline phosphatase, 73 (36-141) U/L (n=19); total protein, 6.8 (6.2-8.0) g/dL (n=24); albumin, 3.3 (2.6-4.1) g/dL (n=21); cholesterol, 188 (101-399) mg/dL (n=21); triglycerides, 126 (60-236) mg/dL (n=21); glucose, 47 (22-69) mg/dL (n=21); urea, 43 (21-69) mg/dL (n=21); uric acid, 1.1 (0.5-1.8) mg/dL (n=22); creatinine, 2.2 (1.5-3.3) mg/dL (n=22); total bilirubin, 0.2 (0.2-2.0) mg/dL (n=21); calcium, 12.7 (10.2-18.6) mg/dL (n=24); iron, 282 (207-457) μg/dL (n=13); and magnesium, 6.9 (4.3-8.9) mg/dL (n=20). With the exception of LDH, no differences were observed between sexes.
Conclusions:
The ranges obtained in this study provide important preliminary estimates for concentrations and activities of serum analytes in Amazonian manatees until a larger reference interval study can be conducted.
