Evaluation of selenium status and its distribution in organs of free living foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from an Se deficient area

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine selenium status and its distribution in the organs of free living foxes from selenium deficient areas of north-western Poland. Samples of organs harvested from 40 foxes shot during the 2008-2009 hunting seasons served as experimental material. Selenium concentration in the organs was determined spectrofluorometrically. Selenium distribution in tissues depends largely on its dietary content. Our study indicated that concentrations of selenium in the examined organs followed the order: kidney>liver>spleen>lung>heart and kidneys were the organ with the highest retention of this element. Mean selenium concentration in fox kidneys was 0.60 ± 0.15 μg/g wet weight. Several times less selenium on average was found in the liver (0.27 ± 0.09 μg/g w.w.), lungs (0.17 ± 0.06 μg/g w.w.), spleen (0.19 ± 0.06 μg/g w.w.) and heart (0.13 ± 0.05 μg/g w.w.). All the animals studied were deficient in selenium.

Stężenie selenu w narządach i tkankach psa domowego (Canis lupus familiaris) z terenu północno-zachodniej Polski

“…The average Se concentration in heart and lungs was 0.11 mg/kg ww in the present study. A similar concentration of Se was found in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from northwestern Poland [10] and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from southeastern Poland [24].…”

“…The normal action of the heart depends on the concentration of selenium, and low levels of this element may cause heart dysfunction. One of the most common animal diseases caused by Se deficiency is mulberry heart disease [10,24]. The average Se concentration in heart and lungs was 0.11 mg/kg ww in the present study.…”

“…There were also statistically significant differences in Se concentrations in the liver of young and old dogs from northwestern Poland, red and silver foxes from the same area [8,10], and raccoon dogs from southeastern Poland [24]. This relationship was not found in kidneys in the foxes and raccoon dogs.…”

“…Tissue samples were kept frozen at −20°C in a laboratory until analysed. Selenium concentrations were determined by the spectrofluorimetric method according to Pilarczyk et al [10]. The dried samples (0.1-0.3 g) were wet mineralized in a mixture of concentrated acids: nitric acid (HNO3) for 3 hours at 230°C and perchloric acid (HClO4) for 20 minutes at 310°C.…”

“…The highest concentration was observed in the liver, kidneys and blood plasma. The borderline between optimal Se concentration and the deficiency or excess of this element is small [2,4,7,10]. Selenium deficiency may result in muscle dystrophy, pulmonary oedema, hypothyroidism and cardiac insufficiency.…”