Plasma biochemistry in female green iguanas (Iguana iguana) with calcium metabolism disorders

Abstract

Twenty-two female green iguanas (Iguana iguana) diagnosed with different forms of calcium metabolism disorders were classified into three groups: females with post-ovulatory egg stasis or pre-ovulatory follicle stasis (group A), females with acute hypocalcaemia (group B) and females with metabolic bone disease (group C). Group A females had the highest mean plasma values for uric acid (p < 0.05) and phosphorus (p < 0.05) compared to groups B and C. Mean values for uric acid, ALP, ALT, AST, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus were 351.11 μmol·l-1, 0.12 μkat·l-1, 1.42 μkat·l-1, 6.81 μkat·l-1, 5.93, 3.44 mmol·l-1 and 7.45 mmol·l-1, respectively. The phosphorus to calcium ratio was 2.2. Group B females had the highest concentration of AST (p < 0.05), the highest phosphorus to calcium ratio (p < 0.05) and the lowest plasma concentrations of total protein, glucose, cholesterol and calcium. The mean values for total protein, glucose, uric acid, ALT, AST ALP, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus were 47.11 g·l-1, 8.67 mmol·l-1, 233.26 μmol·l-1, 1.11 μkat·l-1, 12.14 μkat·l-1, 0.26 μkat·l-1, 5.19, 1.18 and 5.65 mmol·l-1, respectively. The phosphorus to calcium ratio was 4.8. Group C females had mean values for total protein, uric acid, ALT, AST, ALP, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus of 55.04 g·l-1, 239.56 μmol·l-1, 1.01 μkat·l-1, 1.91 μkat·l-1, 0.89 μkat·l-1, 6.02, 2.64 and 5.40 mmol·l-1, respectively. The phosphorus to calcium ratio was 2.0. Plasma biochemistry is a useful tool in the diagnosis of different calcium metabolism disorders observed in green iguana females.