Plasma biochemistry RIs and age effect in European Strigiformes

Susana Agusti Montolio*, Rafaela Cuenca Valera, Santiago Lavín González, Carolyn Cray, Rafael Molina López, Emmanuel Serrano Ferron, Olga Nicolás Francisco, Ignasi Marco Sánchez, Encarna Casas-Díaz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Blood biochemistry and hematology are essential in the laboratory diagnosis of disease. In Strigiformes, little information regarding reference values and influence of different preanalytic factors is available, while age is known to have an effect on some biochemistry analytes, especially in early life characterized by a rapid growth rate and increase in body mass. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine baseline data for 29 blood biochemistry variables in 5 species of Iberian Strigiformes assigned to different age classes. Methods: Healthy nocturnal birds living in wildlife health centers of Catalonia, Northeastern Spain were assigned to different age classes (chicks, juveniles, adults where possible and available) and their blood was collected and analyzed for different standard biochemistry variables. Species included Tawny owls, Little owls, Long-eared owls, Scop owls, and Barn owls. Results: A total of 276 clinically healthy animals were sampled, including between 179 chicks, 52 juveniles, and 45 adults. The RIs of cholesterol, albumin, and osmolality were the only variables that did not show interspecific variability. Common trends between age class groups were observed in 4 species. Phosphorus and calcium concentrations and ALP activities decreased with increasing age, while concentrations of sodium and γ-globulins tended to increase in the Strigidae family. Differences were concentrated in chicks and no differences were observed between juveniles and adults in any variable. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the importance of defining biochemical RIs specific for certain age classes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)78-93
Number of pages16
JournalVeterinary Clinical Pathology
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Keywords

  • Blood
  • owl
  • values

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Veterinary

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