NEOPTERIN VALUES IN SELECTED GROUPS OF NORMAL ANIMALS

To establish baseline information on neopterin concentrations in lives tock, companion and laboratory animals and identify the factors that m ay influence these concentrations, blood samples were taken from norma l dairy cattle, horses, Ilamas, dogs, cats and rats of varying ages an d sexes. In addition, neopterin concentrations in normal, adult equine s were compared with those found in racing Thoroughbreds. There were n o differences due to sex, sexual maturity, pregnancy, castration, or a ge. For all ages and sexes combined, mean neopterin concentrations wer e significantly lower in Ilamas (2.27 +/- 0.33 nmol litre(-1)) and rat s (2.13 +/- 0.21 nmol litre(-1)) when compared with the other species tested. Racing Thoroughbreds demonstrated higher neopterin values than adult equines not in training (3.54 +/- 0.64 vs 3.13 +/- 1.02 nmol li tre(-1)).