engleski

Protein electrophoresis in brown bears in Croatia

Serum protein electrophoresis is used as a routine test for health assessment in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to determine serum protein fractions using agarose gel electrophoresis and to compare the results with available literature. The study included 21 brown bears, 17 free-living and 4 captive animals (8 females and 13 males). Serum samples were collected during 2015 and 2016 from free-living bears while capturing and radio-collaring and from captive ones during veterinary procedures. Serum protein electrophoresis yielded fve protein fractions ; albumin (A), α1-globulin, α2-globulin, β- globulin, γ- globulin, and albumin-globulin ratio (A/G), while globulins (G) were calculated. Results showed that females had signifcantly higher absolute values (g/L) for A and A/G, while males had signifcantly higher absolute values (g/L) for total proteins, G and γ- globulin as well as signifcantly higher relative value (%) for γ- globulin. Free-living bears had signifcantly higher absolute values (g/L) for A and A/G as well as signifcantly higher relative value (%) for A compared to captive animals. Captive bears had signifcantly higher both absolute (g/L) and relative value (%) for γ- globulin. Younger animals (yearlings and subadults) had lower values for total proteins (g/L) and γ- globulins (g/L) than adults. Our results (g/L) for total proteins and γ- globulins in younger animals were higher than reference values for yearling brown bears in Sweden. Also, our results for α2- globulin and β globulin in adults were higher and A/G ratio was lower than reference values for adult brown bears in Sweden. Changed albumin/globulin ratio is one of the frst signs of protein composition disorder. Lower A/G ratio found in free-living animals could be due to capturing method and time spent in the snare, therefore we recommend taking all possible measures for shortening the time from the moment of capturing by snare till immobilization of bears.

protein electrophoresis, serum, brown bear

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