Reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus.

Gavin C Hudson-Lamb,Johan P Schoeman,Emma H Hooijberg,Sonja K Heinrich,Adrian S.W Tordiffe

doi:10.4102/jsava.v87i1.1316

Abstract

Published haematologic and serum biochemistry reference intervals are very scarce for captive cheetahs and even more for free-ranging cheetahs. The current study was performed to establish reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs. Baseline serum biochemistry analytes were analysed from 66 healthy Namibian cheetahs. Samples were collected from 30 captive cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation and 36 free-ranging cheetahs from central Namibia. The effects of captivity-status, age, sex and haemolysis score on the tested serum analytes were investigated. The biochemistry analytes that were measured were sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, urea and creatinine. The 90% confidence interval of the reference limits was obtained using the non-parametric bootstrap method. Reference intervals were preferentially determined by the non-parametric method and were as follows: sodium (128 mmol/L – 166 mmol/L), potassium (3.9 mmol/L – 5.2 mmol/L), magnesium (0.8 mmol/L – 1.2 mmol/L), chloride (97 mmol/L – 130 mmol/L), urea (8.2 mmol/L – 25.1 mmol/L) and creatinine (88 µmol/L – 288 µmol/L). Reference intervals from the current study were compared with International Species Information System values for cheetahs and found to be narrower. Moreover, age, sex and haemolysis score had no significant effect on the serum analytes in this study. Separate reference intervals for captive and free-ranging cheetahs were also determined. Captive cheetahs had higher urea values, most likely due to dietary factors. This study is the first to establish reference intervals for serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs according to international guidelines. These results can be used for future health and disease assessments in both captive and free-ranging cheetahs.

Highlights

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the last remaining member of the genus Acinonyx and is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2014)
Six serum biochemistry analytes were measured in 66 healthy captive (n = 30) and free-ranging (n = 36) cheetahs, consisting of 43 males and 23 females
The captive cheetahs were significantly older than the free-ranging cheetahs (Mann– Whitney U test, p < 0.01) (Table 1), with the median age of captive cheetahs (7 years) being almost twice that of the free-ranging cheetahs sampled (4 years)

Summary

Introduction

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the last remaining member of the genus Acinonyx and is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2014). Species-specific haematological and serum biochemistry reference intervals are arguably among the most powerful tools in veterinary medicine to aid in the clinical decision-making process of making diagnoses and managing disease (Friedrichs et al 2012). There are only a handful of publications that provide information on haematological and serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs (Bechert et al 2002; Caro et al 1987; Depauw et al 2012; Holder et al 2004). These studies provide values mainly for captive cheetahs. One study provides additional values for free-ranging cheetahs in East Africa (Caro et al 1987)

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