Mineral and electrolyte concentrations in young red deer
Barić Rafaj R., Šoštarić B., Kuleš J., Matijatko V., Živičnjak T., Mayer I.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Zagreb, Croatia
Introduction: The intensity of cervid management in Croatia is increasing as
more animals are being held in captivity for commercial and recreational
purposes. As in other domestic animals, knowledge of normal electrolytes and
minerals concentrations, together with other blood values are important for
monitoring health and for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Young animals of different species show different electrolyte and mineral
concentration compared to adult ones. In order to establish the difference
between young and adult red deer we determined the electrolytes and mineral
concentrations (sodium - Na, potassium - K, chloride - Cl, total magnesium - tMg
and calcium - tCa, ionized Mg - Mg2+, ionized calcium - Ca2+ and inorganic
phosphorus –iP) in young deer population and compared them with adults.
Method: Serum electrolytes and minerals were determined in samples from 34
physically restrained, healthy young red deer (Cervus elaphus), aged 0,5-2 years.
The results were compared to values obtained from 11 adult animals. The deer
were sampled by jugular venepuncture without tranquillization. Serum tCa, iP
and tMg were determined by spectrophotometric analysis using Olympus
biochemical analyser (AU 6000) and original reagents of manufactorer. The Ca2+
, Mg2+, Na, K and Cl concentration were determined by ion-selective electrodes
(ISE), using a acid-base analyzer (Nova Biomedical). Statistical analysis of the
data were carried out by Student t-test at p<0,05 significance level (*).
Results: Young animals showed significantly higher values of K, tCa, Ca2+, Mg2+
and iP, while Na and Cl concentration were significantly lower. There was no
significant difference in the tMg concentration and Ca2+/Mg2+ ratio in relation to
age.
Conclusion: The evaluation of electrolytes and minerals provides important
information for veterinarians,especially in relation to the urinary, respiratory,
digestive, and endocrine systems. The manifestations of a mineral deficiency can
differ among animals of different ages and symptoms are rarely diseasespecific. As a result, the diagnosis of a mineral-related disease is usually
accomplished through a combination of clinical and biochemical examination .
Acid-base analysers with ISE electrode becoming widely used in veterinary
practice, and it is useful to establish reference intervals for some
subpopulations of wild animals. Blood values determined in this study can be
considered reference data for health control and disease diagnosis. The
obtained results demonstrate the need to use specific reference intervals for
young deer population.
Sodium concentration
152
150
148
Na (mmol/L)
146
144
142
140
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
138
136
adult
young*
Pottassium concentration
7,0
6,5
K (mmol/L)
6,0
5,5
5,0
4,5
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
4,0
3,5
adult
young*
Chloride concentration
112
110
Cl (mmol/L)
108
106
104
102
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
100
98
adult
young*
Total calcium concentration
3,4
3,2
3,0
tCa (mmol/L)
2,8
2,6
2,4
2,2
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
2,0
1,8
adult
young*
Ionized calcium concentration
1,40
1,35
1,30
1,25
Ca2+ (mmol/L)
1,20
1,15
1,10
1,05
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
1,00
0,95
adult
young*
Total magnesium concentration
1,3
1,2
1,1
tMg (mmol/L)
1,0
0,9
0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
0,4
0,3
adult
young
Ionized magnesium concentration
0,54
0,52
0,50
Mg2+ (mmol/L)
0,48
0,46
0,44
0,42
0,40
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
0,38
0,36
adult
young*
Ionized Ca/Mg ratio
3,2
3,0
Ca2+/Mg2+
2,8
2,6
2,4
2,2
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
2,0
1,8
adult
young
Inorganic phosphorus concentration
4,0
3,5
iP (mmol/L)
3,0
2,5
2,0
1,5
Median
25%-75%
Non-Outlier Range
Outliers
Extremes
1,0
0,5
adult
young*