BLOOD VITAMINS AND TRACE ELEMENTS IN NORTHERN-EAST AFRICAN CHEETAHS (ACINONYX JUBATUS SOEMMERINGII) IN CAPTIVITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

There are few published data regarding the endangered Northern-East African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii), held in captivity in the Middle East and Europe. Studies have demonstrated a high incidence of disease in captive cheetahs, in which vitamin and trace element imbalances have often been implicated. Blood vitamin and trace element reference values in cheetahs merit further investigation. In this study, blood samples were opportunistically collected from apparently healthy A. j. soemmeringii from two collections (A and B) with successful breeding programs in the United Arab Emirates. The cheetahs were fed whole prey of mixed species (and, in Collection B, goat muscle and bone as well) dusted with vitamin and mineral supplements. Mean serum vitamin and trace element values (for cheetahs > 4 mo in age) were as follows: vitamin A (retinol), 2.20 microM/L (n = 27); vitamin B1, 0.0818 microM/L (n = 45); vitamin C, 28.6 microM/L (n=10); vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), 35.6 microM/L (n = 27); copper (Cu), 12.53 microM/L (n = 27); selenium (Se), 3.10 microM/L (n = 27); and zinc (Zn), 10.87 microM/L (n = 27). Mean values of vitamin A, vitamin E, Cu, and Zn fell within ranges of published cheetah mean values, and mean Se was lower than range values for cheetahs presented in one previous study; blood vitamin B1 and vitamin C values of cheetahs have not previously been published. The values were taken to indicate that the cheetahs' nutritional status was adequate with regard to those nutrients analyzed. Serum vitamin E was particularly high in cheetahs fed fresh whole prey, and on this basis vitamin E supplementation of fresh whole prey appeared to have been unnecessary. There were differences (P < 0.05) between collections in serum vitamin B1, vitamin E, Cu, and 10 other hematologic and biochemical parameters. Nine hematologic and blood biochemical parameters differed among age categories.

Hydrocephalus in Animals

“…Therapeutic trials involve high doses of vitamin A and surgical decompression of the foramen magnum in individual cases. If supplemented (2000 IU/kg weekly for 4 weeks, (Hartley et al 2005) early on and damage to the nervous tissue is not too advanced yet, the osseous hypertrophy can be reversed, and affected animals show marked improvement of clinical signs (De Risio et al 2010;Kaiser et al 2014;Beckmann et al 2013).…”

Clinical Management of Captive Cheetahs

“…Diets fed to captive cheetahs, especially supplemented meat, can vary significantly in vitamin and mineral content. These dietary differences alter blood mineral and vitamin levels, and may predispose cheetahs to nutritional disease, such as metabolic bone disease (Beckmann et al, 2013;Depauw et al, 2012). For this reason, diets should be carefully evaluated, particularly in growing cheetahs, to ensure that they not only meet dietary recommendations for felids, but also that circulating levels of nutrients are adequate.…”

Essential microelement (copper, selenium, zinc) status according to age and sex in healthy cats

“…In contrast to other farm and companion animals, information concerning the microelement status of domestic cats is scarce in the literature, and optimum levels of these elements are still not defined. Levels of Cu, Se, and Zn were determined in the blood of wild felids such as cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), but the concentrations were highly variable and were not comparable to those of domestic cats (Beckmann et al, 2013).…”