Serum chemistry parameters of free-ranging moose (Alces alces linnaeus, 1758) of different sex and age groups

Moose ( Alces alces, Linnaeus 1758) is a perspective species for game farming, characterized by a high growth rate, as well as a wide potential for economic use for meat and milk production. In Russia and the world, there are few studies of the biochemical parameters of moose blood. (S.A. Becker et al., 2010; A.W. Franzmann et al., 1978; M.A. Keech et al., 1998; V. Reshetnyak et al., 2021; M.K. Rostal et al., 2012). The reference range of biochemical blood parameters is necessary for assessing the physical condition of animals, nutrition quality, habitat, stressors, the impact of infectious and invasive diseases (A.A. Cunningham et al., 1998; P. Daszak et al., 1999; W.F. Frick et al., 2010). The article presents for the first time the biochemical parameters of the blood of moose from different sex and age groups. The goal of the work is to determine the biochemical parameters of blood in moose of different sex and age living in the Kirov region. Whole blood was taken from animals ( n = 90) bagged during the hunting seasons of 2006-2020. Samples were collected from October to December in the experimental hunting ground of Zhitkov Russian Game Management and Fur Farming Research Institute (Kirov region). All animals were wild and moved freely, feeding on local vegetation. Whole blood was studied from the following sex and age groups: 20 young females aged 6-7 months; 20 adult females aged 2.5-7 years; 20 young males aged 6-7 months; 30 adult males aged 2.5-7 years. All animals were considered clinically healthy. Blood samples were taken by cutting the jugular vein immediately after the animal was shot. Blood serum studies were performed on a Biochem SA semi-automatic biochemical analyzer (High Technology Inc., USA). The analysis included the determination of the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AsAT), alanine aminotransferase (AlAT), alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-amylase, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, urea, cholesterol, glucose. In the blood serum of adult moose, high activity of AsAT was noted (in females and males, respectively, 253.8±52.38 and 250.9±47.52 U/l), alpha-amylase (29.2±7.20 and 32 0±8.77 U/l), creatinine content (183.9±18.59 and 182.1±23.66 mmol/l), urea (6.2±0.82 mmol/l and 5.9±0.87 mmol/l). In young individuals, AsAT (161.2±28.30 and 160.0±30.92 U/l), alpha-amylase (24.6±4.91 and 23.2±5.46 U/l), the content creatinine (152.8±20.32 and 149.1±23.78 mmol/l), urea (2.4±0.63 and 2.6±0.98 mmol/l) were significantly lower. In young animals, on the contrary, high activity of AlAT (60.8±6.42 and 58.7±6.74 U/l), alkaline phosphatase (230.4±40.79 and 222.2±31.14 U/l) /l), LDH (805.2±185.57 and 822.9±237.13 U/l), glucose content (6.3±1.01 and 6.3±1.03 mmol/l). Adult animals were characterized by lower levels of AlAT (43.6±7.35 and 41.9±6.33 U/l), alkaline phosphatase (69.3±12.62 U/l and 69.9±11,31 U/l), LDH (614.1±98.11 U/l and 598.2±129.37 U/l), glucose (5.3±1.02 and 5.3±1.14 mmol/ l). Statistically significant (p function show_eabstract() { $('#eabstract1').hide(); $('#eabstract2').show(); $('#eabstract_expand').hide(); }