Hypervitaminosis D in felids following feed contamination

Citation

Bissell H, Black P, and Keller D. 2019. Hypervitaminosis D in felids following feed contamination. In Brooks M, Freel T, Koutsos E Eds. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Saint Louis, MO.

Abstract

Routine vitamin D evaluation of a serum sample collected in late March 2019 from a cheetah at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay revealed highly elevated levels of 25-OH vitamin D (838 nmol/L). Currently, serum 25-OH D3 levels > 400 nmol/L are considered indicative of hypervitaminosis D. Lab analysis error, over-supplementation, consumption of a D-containing rodenticide, or feed contamination were considered potential causes. We immediately alerted our feed manufacturer that there could be a potential issue, sent banked portions of the original sample to two labs for confirmation, sent samples of the diet in for vitamin D analysis, and began testing other felids to evaluate the extent of the issue.

Bissell.pdf     16 KB