Reference serum protein and lipoprotein fractions of ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine for reference purposes the values of serum albumin, α1-globulin, α2-globulin, β-globulin, γ-globulin, and α-lipoprotein (high density lipoprotein), pre-β-lipoprotein (very low density lipoprotein) and β-lipoprotein (low density lipoprotein) fractions of normal ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Turkey. Five male and five female ostriches, 18 months old, were used. All the ostriches were fed on a diet that contained 15.14 % crude protein and 2 950 Kcal/kg of metabolizable energy. The serum protein and lipoprotein fractions were measured using agarose gel electrophoresis. The fractions were found to be 60.96 % albumin, 0.24 % α1-globulin, 15.91 % α2-globulin, 13.34 % β-globulin, 9.55 % γ-globulin, 53.77 % HDL, 0.60 % VLDL and 48.09 % LDL.