Changes in Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos) Serum Chemistry Due to Age, Sex, and Reproductive Condition

Abstract

Selected serum constituents were analyzed from 50 adult mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) of both sexes during several stages of reproduction: pre-egg laying, egg laying, incubating, molting, and postreproductive. Similar assays were conducted on sera from ducklings aged 5 to 58 days. Values for total protein (TPR), albumin (ALB), glucose (GLU), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), calcium (CA), phosphorus (PHOS) and magnesium (MG) differed by sex. When all data were combined and analyzed for sex-related differences within each reproductive condition separately, all assays except lactate dehydrogenase (LD-L), cholinesterase (CHE), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CRN) and direct bilirubin (BIDI) differed between sexes during one or more reproductive periods. Each assay showed differences among the various reproductive conditions regardless of gender. The pattern of change differed between sexes. All assays except ALB, GLU, CA and MG showed age-related changes. Lipemia in the sample interfered with all chemistries except TPR, LD-L and CA. Results indicate that when using clinical chemistry as a diagnostic tool in the mallard, age and reproductive condition should be determined in order to compare the data to appropriate control values.

Health Evaluation of Western Arctic King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis)

“…Values for total protein, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, and globulin were significantly higher in females than males (P,0.05), a result consistent with sex differences in Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos; Fairbrother et al, 1990). Because our study was conducted during breeding and egg-laying phases, we expected to find increased values in females for alkaline phosphatase, amylase, calcium, and total protein.…”

Estimation of Carcass Fat and Protein in Northern Pintails (Anas Acuta) During Spring Migration

“…Moreover, protein and lipid catabolism during longdistance flight (Jenni and Jenni-Eiermann, 1998) can cause an increase in uric acid, free-fatty acids, and ␤-hydroxybutyrate (Gannes, 2001;Gannes et al, 2001). Blood metabolite composition is strongly affected by diet (Gannes, 2001) and varies according to age, sex, and reproductive condition (Fairbrother et al, 1990). Adults may have lower plasma uric acid and triglyceride levels than young birds (Puerta et al, 1990).…”

Effects of lead exposure on oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma biochemistry in waterbirds in the field

“…Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) for each of the studied biomarkers were used with PbB and a body condition index (Peig and Green, 2009) as covariables, and year of sampling, sex and age as factors (Fairbrother et al, 1990). Due to low sample size, the effects of factors without their interactions were considered in the models.…”

“…A backward stepwise procedure was used to select the final models, excluding the predictor variables when they had non-significant effects. Biochemical measurements were only performed with birds captured during the post-breeding period (August-October) to reduce seasonal effects (Fairbrother et al, 1990), and because the number of birds sampled during the winter was very small (five mallards). The relationship between the different parameters analyzed was studied using Pearson correlations.…”