ISRAEL JOURNAL OF
VETERINARY MEDICINE
PLASMA CHEMISTRY VALUES IN THE YOUNG
AND ADULT NIGERIAN DUCK (Anas platyrhynchos)
Vol. 57 (4) 2002
F. O. Olayemi, J. O. Oyewale and O. F. Omolewa
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of
Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Plasma chemistry values were determined in 14 healthy adult (50-80 week old) and 10
healthy young (8-10 week old) Nigerian ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). The young birds had
significantly greater aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT)
values than the adult birds. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP), inorganic phosphate, bicarbonate
(HCO3), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and chloride (Cl) levels in the young bird were not
significantly different from those of the adult duck. The total protein, albumin, globulin, urea
and creatinine values were also similar in the young and adult birds.
Introduction
Available reports on plasma chemistry data of birds in our tropical environment are limited to
those of Nigerian fowls (1,2), guinea fowls (3,4) and turkeys (5). There is no available report on the
blood chemistry values for the Nigerian duck. There are about 11.79 million ducks in Nigeria (6). The
majority of these ducks are the Nigerian duck, which are reared in villages using the extensive
management system. In this paper, we present the effect of age on the plasma chemistry values of the
Nigerian duck.
Materials and Methods
Twenty-four healthy Nigerian ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were used for this study. Of these, 10
were 8-10 week old unsexed ducklings and 14 were 52-80 week old adults of both sexes. The birds
were purchased from a local market in Ibadan, Nigeria and housed in deep litter pens for 4 weeks at the
University of Ibadan Teaching and Research Farm. During this period, water and grower’s mash
(Bendel feed and flourmill Limited, Nigeria) were provided ad libitum. They were dewormed using
piperazine (Piperzine wormer(R), Pfizer Products Plc, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria). The birds received for 3
days, the coccidiostatic drug, and sulfadimidine sodium (Vetacox®; Associated Pharmaceutical product
Limited, Lagos, Nigeria), and vitamin and amino acid supplements (Vitalyte (R), Laboratorios Hipra,
Avda, La Selva S/N 17170 Amer, Girona, Spain)
Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of individual birds into bottles containing
disodium salts of ethylene diamine tertaacetic acid (EDTA, 2mg/ml of blood) (BDH Chemicals
Limited, Poole, England) and centrifuged at 3,000 G for 10 minutes to obtain plasma. Sodium (Na) and
potassium (K) concentrations of the plasma were determined by standard flame photometry, inorganic
phosphate by the method of Gomori (7), chloride by the method of Schales and Schales (8), and
bicarbonate and calcium according to Toro and Ackermann (9).
Total protein was determined by the biuret method (10) and albumin by the method of Doumas
(11). Globulin was obtained by subtracting the albumin from the total protein. Urea and creatinine were
determined according to Harrison (12).
The levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were determined
colorimetrically according to Mohun and Cook (13). Alkaline phosphatase was determined according
to the method described by King and Armstrong (14).
Statistical tests were carried out by the Student’s t-test.
Results
Table I compares the plasma electrolyte and enzyme levels in young and adult Nigerian duck.
The young birds had significantly higher AST (P<0.01) and ALT (P<0.001) than the adult Nigerian
duck. Plasma Na, K, C1, HCO3, Ca, inorganic phosphate and ALP were however similar in the young
and adult Nigeria ducks.
Table 1: Plasma electrolyte and enzyme levels (mean±SD) in young and adult Nigerian Duck
Parameters
Young (n=10)
Adult (n=14)
Na (mmol/L)
145.90±8.45
149.40±4.47
K (mmolL)
5.83±1.99
6.00±1.55
Cl (mmol/l)
105.90±3.81
108.43±1.98
HCO3 (mmol/l)
23.50±3.17
24.07±1.73
Ca (mg/dl)
8.63±0.21
8.56±0.21
Inorganic Phosphate (mg/dl)
4.95±0.62
4.41±0.29
ALP (i.u/l)
74.40±11.68
81.00±12.48
AST (i.u/l)
37.00±4.29
29.93±5.66*
ALT (i.u/l)
30.10±4.65
20.71±6.76**
Value significantly different from young duck at *P<0.01 **P<0.001
Table II shows the effect of age on the plasma protein and metabolite levels in the Nigerian
duck. There were no significant differences between the young and adults in the total protein, albumin,
globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, urea and creatinine values.
Table II: Plasma protein and metabolite levels (mean±SD) in young and adult Nigerian ducks.
Parameter
Young (n=10)
Adult(n=14)
Total protein (g/dl)
5.95±0.36
5.91±0.29
Albumin (g/dl)
2.85±0.17
2.81±0.21
Globulin (g/dl)
3.10±0.22
3.09±0.11
Albumin/globulin Ratio
0.92±0.05
0.91±0.06
Urea (mg/dl)
27.10±13.25
29.50±12.92
Creatinine (mg/dl)
1.20±0.47
1.24±0.46
Discussion
In the present study there were no significant differences in the plasma Na, K, Cl, HCO 3, Ca and
inorganic phosphate levels (Table I). However, Work (15) reported that adult Hawaiian dark-rumped
petrels (Pterodoma phaeopygia) and wedge-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) had lower Ca and
inorganic phosphate values than the young.
He also observed that adult frigatebirds (Fregata minor) had greater Ca and inorganic phosphate
values than the young birds. However, in geese it was reported that the plasma Ca value remained
unchanged and Cl value increased while inorganic phosphate levels decreased with age (16).
Young Nigerian ducks had significantly higher plasma AST and ALT levels than adult birds
(Table 1). The mean AST in the adult Nigerian ducks (29.93 i.u/l) was lower, while the mean ALT
(20.71 i.u/l) was higher than in adult guinea fowls (AST=155-171.67 i.u/l) ALT=9.17-12.50 i.u/l) (4)
and white England turkeys (AST=772.50 i.u/l. ALT=10.70 i.u/l) in the same environment (5).
There were no significant differences between the young and adult Nigerian ducks in total
protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, urea and creatinine values (Table II). Work (15)
reported increases in total protein, albumin and globulin values with age in pelecaniform birds. Wolf
(17) found that in brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) globulins and total protein values increased
with age but albumin decreased. In the domestic fowls (18) and Japanese quail (19), the total protein
value decreased with age.
The mean Ca, inorganic phosphate and Cl values in adult Nigerian duck (Table 1) are lower
than the values (Ca=104mg/dl; inorganic phosphate=6.2mg/dl; Cl=370mmol/l) reported by Soliman
(20) in adult Egyptian ducks. Also, the Na and Cl values in Nigerian duck are lower, but the K value is
higher than those found by Balasch (21) in Galliformes (Na=153.90-168.17mmol/l; Cl=109.50122.50mmol/l; K=2.25-3.58mmol/l). In comparison to the electrolyte values in adult Nigerian fowls,
reported by Oyewale (2), the adult Nigerian duck in our present study had higher Na (149.40 vs 133.60
mmol/l) K(6.00 vs 3.88mmol/l) and HCO3 values (24.07 vs. 20.59 mmol/l), but lower Ca value (8.56 vs
9.89 mg/dl) and not too different Cl (108.48 vs 106.4 mmol/l) and inorganic phosphate values (4.41 vs
4.04 mmol/l).
The total protein (5.91 g/dl), albumin (2.81gldl) and globulin values (3.09 g/dl) in adult
Nigerian ducks (Table II) were higher than values reported by Makinde and Fatunmbi (5) in adult
White England turkeys (total protein=3.93g/dl; albumin 1.55g/dl; globulin=2.36 g/dl) reared in the
same tropical Nigerian environment Oyewale (2) reported a higher globulin value (3.43g/dl) and lower
albumin (1.55gldl) and total protein values (4.95gldl) in Nigerian fowl than those obtained here in
Nigerian ducks. The urea (7.20mg/dl) and creatinine values (0.59mg/dl) found in adult Egyptian duck
by Soliman (20) are lower than values observed in adult Nigerian ducks (Table II). The high urea value
as well as the high total plasma protein value probably reflects the adequate state of nutrition of the
Nigerian ducks used in the present study.
LINKS TO OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE
References
1. Olowookorun, M. O., Ayeni, J. S and Aire, T. A.: Plasma glucose and alkaline phosphate
levels in guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) and Nigerian domestic fowls (Gallus domestics). Zbl. Vet.
Med. A 27: 578-582, 1980.
2. Oyewale, J. O Olowookorun, M. O., Abatan , M. O and Fajimi, J. L.: Serum electrocyte and
protein levels in guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) and Nigerian fowl (Gallus domesticus). Beitr?ge
trop. Landwirtsch. Veterinarmed 26: 81-85, 1988.
3. Olowookunrun, M. O, Makinde, M. O and Aire T. A.: Plasma transaminase activity in
Nigerian fowl (Gallus domesticus). And guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). .IRCS Medical Sciences,
Biochemistry, Experimental Animals 7, 53.
4. Ayeni, J. S .: The biology and utilization of the helmet guinea fowl (Numida meleagris
galeata, pallas) in Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Ibadan, 1980.
5. Makinde, M. O and Fatunmbi, O. O.: Some haemotalogical and biochemical values of turkey
in Ibadan. Bull. Anim Hlth. Prod. Afr. 33: 245-248, 1985.
6. Arowolo, R. O. A.: Protecting our Livestock Resources. 1995/96 Inaugural lecture,
University Printery, U.I Ventures Ltd., Ibadan, Nigeria, p. 5, 1999.
7. Gomori,.G.: A modification of the calorimetric determination of phosphorus for use with the
photoelectric colorimeter. J.Lab. Clin Med. 27: 955-976, 1942.
8. Schales, O. and Schales, S. S.: A simple and accurate method for the determination of
chloride in biological fluids. J. Biol. Chem. 140: 879-884, 1941.
9. Toro, G. and Ackermann, P.: Practical Clinical Chemistry. 1 st ed. Little Brown and Company
Boston. pp 237-238, 1975.
10. Reinhold, J. G.: Manual determination of serum total protein albumin and globulin fractions
by Buiret method. In: M. Reiner (Ed): Standard Method of Clinical Chemistry; Academic Press, New
York, p. 88, 1953.
11. Doumas, B. T., Watson, W. and Biggs, H. G.: Albumin standards and the measurement of
serum albumin with bromocresol green. Clin Chim. Acta. 31: 87-96, 1971.
12. Harrison, G. A.: Clinical Methods in Clinical Medicine, 3rd ed. Churchhill, London; 1947
13. Mohun, A, E. and Cook, P.: Simple method for measuring serum levles of the
glutamateoxaloacetate and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in the routine laboratory. J. Clin. Path. 10:
374-399, 1957.
14. King, E. J and Armstrong, A. R.: A convenient method for determining serum and bile
phosphates activity. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 31: 376-381, 1934.
15. Work, T. M.: Weights, haematology and serum chemistry of seven species of free ranging
tropical pelagic seabirds. J. Wildl. Dis. 32: 643-657, 1996.
16. Hunt, J. R; Hunsaker, W. G. and Aitken, J.R.: Physiology of the growing and adult goose.II
.Some biochemical constituents of blood. Br. Poult. Sci. 5: 257-262 1964.
17. Wolf, S. H., Schreiber, R.W., Kahana, L. and Torres, J. J.: Seasonal, sexual and age related
variation in the blood composition of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). Comp. Biochem.
Physiol. 82A: 837-846, 1985.
18. Brandt, L. W., Clegg, R. E. and Andrews, A. C.: The effect of age and degree of maturity on
the serum proteins on the chicken. J. Biol. Chem. 191: 105-111, 1951.
19. Nirmalan, G. P. and Robinson, G. A.: Haematology of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix
japonica). Br. Poult. Sci. 12: 475-481 1971
20. Soliman, M. K., El Amrousi, S. and Ahmed, A. A. S.: Cytological and biochemical studies
on the blood of normal and spirochaete- infected ducks. Zbl. Vet. Med. B 13: 82-86, 1966.
21. Balasch, J., Palacois; L., Musquera, S., Palomeque ,J., Jimenez, M. and Alemany,
Comparative haematological values of several galliformes. Poult. Sci. 52: 1531-1534, 1973.
M.: