Effect of diet on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) |
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| Authors: | T F Scheelings L Haynes |
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| Institution: | Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, Victoria 3777, Australia. fscheelings@zoo.org.au |
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| Abstract: | Background Elevated concentrations of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)‐D) were diagnosed in captive short‐beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) from three different zoological facilities within Australia. Results The mean serum 25(OH)‐D concentration in the wild echidnas was 24.7 nmol/L and was significantly higher in captive echidnas from all three facilities: Facility 1, mean 335.5 nmol/L (P < 0.001); Facility 2, mean 187.2 nmol/L (P = 0.003); Facility 3, mean 194 nmol/L (P = 0.005). Animals did not appear to have clinical manifestations of vitamin D toxicosis. The increased serum 25(OH)‐D concentration was attributed to excessive dietary intake and a reduction in the amount of vitamin D3 in the diet of echidnas from Facility 1 resulted in a marked decrease in the serum 25(OH)‐D concentrations (mean 33 nmol/L). The reduction in serum 25(OH)‐D concentration was statistically significant (P = 0.002) and the resulting concentrations were similar to those of wild echidnas (P = 0.212). Conclusion It is not known what effect an elevated serum 25(OH)‐D concentration has on echidnas. |
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| Keywords: | diet short‐beaked echidna supplementation Tachyglossus aculeatus vitamin D3 |
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