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Crissey, S.D.; Ange, K.D.; Jacobsen, K.L.; Slifka, K.A.; Bowen, P.E.; Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis, M.; Langman, C.B.; Sadler, W.; Kahn, S.; Ward, A.
Serum concentrations of lipids, vitamin D metabolites, retinol, retinyl esters, tocopherols and selected carotenoids in twelve captive wild felid species at four zoos
2003  The Journal of Nutrition (133): 160-166

Serum concentrations of several nutrients were measured in 12 captive wild felid species including caracal (_Felis caracal_), cheetah (_Acinonyx jubatus_), cougar (_Felis concolor_), fishing cat (_Felis viverrinus_), leopard (_Panthera pardus_), lion (_Panthera leo_), ocelot (_Felis pardalis_), pallas cat (_Felis manul_), sand cat (_Felis margarita_), serval (_Felis serval_), snow leopard (_Panthera uncia_) and tiger (_Panthera tigris_). Diet information was collected for these animals from each participating zoo (Brookfield Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens and North Carolina Zoological Park). The nutritional composition of the diets at each institution met the probable dietary requirements for each species except for the pallas cat. Blood samples were collected from each animal (_n _= 69) and analyzed for lipids (total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol), vitamin D metabolites [25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D)], vitamin A (retinol, retinyl stearate and retinyl palmitate), vitamin E (_- and _-tocopherol) and selected carotenoids. Species differences were found for all except triacylglycerides and 1,25(OH)2D. Genus differences were found for retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl stearate, _-tocopherol and _-carotene. Circulating nutrient concentrations for many of the species in this study have not been reported previously and most have not been compared with the animals' dietary intakes. The large number of animals analyzed provides a substantial base for comparing the serum nutrient concentrations of healthy animals, for both wild and captive exotic species.

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