BLOOD BIOCHEMISTRY VALUES IN ALAOTRAN GENTLE LEMURS HAPALEMUR-GRISEUS-ALAOTRENSIS AT THE JERSEY-WILDLIFE-PRESERVATION-TRUST

Research into the diet of Alaotran gentle lemurs Hapalemur griseus ala otrensis provided an opportunity to collect blood samples from apparen tly healthy adults, allowing a preliminary database of normal brood bi ochemistry values to be created. Six adults (one female, five males) w ere each sampled once and the range of values obtained are presented a nd compared with ranges observed in other lemur species. Values from o ne individual were excluded because the levels of creatinine and urea measured were markedly elevated above those observed in the rest of th e lemurs. Raised levels of both these blood parameters can be used as an indication of renal failure. The animal later died, just 15 days af ter the brood sample was taken, and the cause of death was attributed in part to the presence of oxalate crystals in the kidneys. A potentia l source of the oxalate is discussed.