Capillary zone electrophoresis and acute phase proteins in lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) and the influence of pododermatitis on these analytes in a German zoological collection

Abstract

Early diagnosis of inflammatory processes in avian species is difficult because birds often hide clinical signs until an advanced stage of illness. Flamingos are prone to pododermatitis, a condition that is difficult to treat at a late stage. The aim of this study was therefore to establish reference intervals for the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin and electrophoresis in lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) and to investigate the influence of pododermatitis on these analytes. For this purpose, lithium heparin plasma samples were collected from 82 flamingos during health checks at a German zoo and examined using capillary zone electrophoresis and spectrophotometry for acute phase proteins. In addition, the feet were examined for lesions and the lesions were graded. The results show that animals with increasing pododermatitis grades also have significantly decreasing percent albumin (P = 0.0060) and increasing absolute γ-globulin concentrations (P = 0.0355), SAA (P < 0.0001), and haptoglobin (P = 0.0028) levels. This shows that both capillary zone electrophoresis and acute phase proteins are suitable for detecting inflammatory reactions triggered by pododermatitis in lesser flamingos.