IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Garcˇa, I.; Martˇnez, F.; Pastor, J.; Bach-Raich, E.; Mu¤oz, A.; Vargas, A.; Zorrilla, I. | |
| Serum biochemical parameters for the Iberian lynx (_Lynx pardinus_): references values | |
| 2009 Book Chapter | |
Knowledge of baseline biochemical reference values provides information on the health status of a population. This is especially important when dealing with threatened species for the interpretation of laboratory data, which is often the first indicator of disease. However, the information on serum biochemical parameters currently available for the Iberian lynx (_Lynx pardinus_) is scarce. The main objectives of the present study were: 1) to establish the serum biochemical reference values for the Iberian lynx; 2) to compare these values with those of the domestic cat and other felid species and 3) to assess whether there were significant variations on these values depending on factors such as sex, age (juveniles, subadults and adults) or habitat condition (free-living, quarantine and prolonged captivity). Serum biochemical values were determined from 104 clinically healthy Iberian lynx. Blood samples were obtained from animals of different sexes, ages, habitat conditions, origin (Sierra Morena and Do¤ana metapopulations) and captured using different methods (trap-box, net, anaesthetic art and manual immobilization). Most biochemical values analyzed were similar to the reported reference values for the domestic cat and other wild felid species. Higher glucose, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase levels in comparison to the domestic cats are in accordance with those published for other wild felids, and may be due to the physical stress experienced during the capture. Statistically significant differences between some parameters depending on sex, age and habitat condition were also observed. Phosphorus concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females, while urea was higher in females. The levels of alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus and cholesterol were higher in juvenile lynx, while creatinine, total proteins and pancreatic amylase were higher in adults. Subadults showed higher values of triglycerides with respect to the other age classes. The increased levels of creatinine and glucose observed in captive lynx may be attributed to the diet. On the other hand, the higher concentrations of enzymes in muscle obtained in free-living lynx were probably due to physiological stress. The values obtained in this study can serve to establish the reference intervals for the serum biochemical parameters in the Iberian lynx, and should be taken into account when assessing the health status of the animals. |
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