Post-prandial levels and diagnostic value of plasma bile acid concentrations in parrots

In the diagnosis of liver diseases the determination of plasma bile acid co ncentration (PBAC) is used as an endogenous liver function test. To avoid f alse positive results it is recommended to obtain blood samples after a fas ting period of 12 hours or to use a separate reference range when taking po st-prandial blood samples. In this study the post-prandial development of the PBAC in psittaciformes i s examined to determine the appropriate time for diagnostic blood withdrawa l. For this purpose the PBAC of 6 grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) was deter mined every two hours for 12 hours after feed deprivation and of 6 goffin's cockatoos (Cacatua goffini) and 12 amazons (Amazona spec.) over 8 hours af ter feed deprivation (following ad libitum feeding before). In the goffin's cockatoos the PBAC reaches a level after the 2 hour measure ment and in the grey parrots after the 4 hour measurement, that implies the recommendation of 20-100 mu mol/l as reference range, if a minimal fasting period of 2 hours for the goffin's parrots and 4 hours for the grey parrot s is allowed. In the amazons the development of the individual PBAC was so variable, that no direct post-prandial time period can be defined. In this genus of psitt aciformes a reference range of 20-140 mu mol/l should be used, independent of the last time of feed intake.