Serum biochemical reference values for adult and non-adult Chinese alligators during the deep and late hibernation periods
Tang, MingyanFei, RongmeiWu, YilongZhou, Yongkang
Background: The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is a critically endangered species. Due to the rapid growth of the captive population, the susceptibility to disease during the recovery period after winter hibernation, especially in young alligators, have detrimentally affected Chinese alligator populations. Serum biochemistry, which relates to metabolism, nutritional status and disease, is enormously helpful in evaluating physical conditions in reptile. Many studies have reported the serum biochemical reference values of various reptilian species, including several crocodilians. However, reference values for Chinese alligators have not yet been reported. For captive Chinese alligators, hibernation is a crucial period because winter management has a direct influence on the survival rate of juveniles and the reproduction rate of adults. The main object of the present study refore was to measure the serum biochemical values of captive Chinese alligators during hibernation. Materials, Methods & Results: As such, this study investigates the serum biochemistry as a factor of age and hibernation stage. During the deep and late hibernation periods blood samples were drawn from 30 healthy captive Chinese alligators (adults, sub-adults, and juveniles) at the Anhui Research Center of Chinese Alligator Reproduction (ARCCAR). Serum biochemical measurements were performed using an [...](AU)
Texto completo