Cb. Dabbert et Kc. Powell, SERUM ENZYMES AS INDICATORS OF CAPTURE MYOPATHY IN MALLARDS (ANAS-PLATYRHYNCHOS), Journal of wildlife diseases, 29(2), 1993, pp. 304-309
Serum concentrations of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) were measured in captive and wild mallards (An
as platyrhynchos) as indicators of muscle damage. Baseline values for
both enzymes were determined from six captive male mallards. During wi
nter 1990 to 1991, six diets (including controls) representative of fo
od available in the Mississippi alluvial valley were fed to captive fe
male mallards housed in an outdoor aviary at the White River National
Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas County, Arkansas (USA). Controlled handling
of penned mallards resulted in elevated serum CK (xBAR = 1,352 IU/lite
r; SD = 1,212) and AST (xBAR = 101 IU/liter; SD = 95) concentrations c
onsistent with myopathies. These serum enzyme elevations were not affe
cted (P > 0.3) by dietary selenium concentrations in the six diets or
by energy malnutrition suffered by birds fed soybeans. Capture of wild
mallards with an entanglement type rocket net resulted in serum CK an
d AST concentrations (xBAR = 12,035 and 330 IU/liter; SD = 8,125 and 1
71, respectively) that were higher (P < 0.001) than those reported aft
er capture with an enveloping type rocket net. Baseline values, contro
lled handling values, and entanglement rocket net values for serum CK
and AST all differed P < 0.0001.