Ascorbic acid, vitamin E, vitamin A, and trace elements in serum of zoo crocodilians.

Citation

Thompson KS, Walker CCF, Schlegel ML. 2013. Ascorbic acid, vitamin E, vitamin A, and trace elements in serum of zoo crocodilians. In Ward A, Coslik A, Mahan K, Treiber K, Reppert A, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Tenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Salt Lake City, UT.

Abstract

A potential clinical case of ulcerative gingivitis in a male gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) initiated an investigation to determine if there was adequate ascorbic acid in the diet of crocodilians at the San Diego Zoo (SDZ), and San Diego Zoo Safari Park (SP). Reptiles can synthesize ascorbic acid and classic deficiency is rarely seen. The objective of this summary was to compare serum trace-mineral and vitamin concentrations of zoo-housed crocodilians to wild and farmed American alligators. 2-6 For the 20 individuals from four species (American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis; Chinese alligators, Alligator sinensis; Johnston’s crocodiles, Crococdylus johnsoni; and gharials), serum nutrient concentrations averaged 11.06 mg Ca/dl, 91.66 ?g Cu/dl,36.88 ?g Fe/dl, 2.86 mg Mg/dl, 4.03 mg P/dl, 3.97 mEq K/L, 153.88 mEq Ma/L, 41.43 mg Zn/dl, 0.50 ?g vitamin A/dl, 46.70 ?g vitamin E /dl, and 0.66 mg ascorbic acid /dl. No additional deficiencies or toxicities have been observed, although some values were above and below those of wild and farmed American alligators.

 

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