title: Age-related changes in plasma biochemical values of farmed emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).
abstract: Blood samples were collected from 40 emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) of 4 different age groups ranging from 1 week to 14 months. Plasma values of glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, creatine kinase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were measured. Fourteen-month-old birds had lower plasma glucose values and enzyme activities and higher plasma protein values than younger birds. One-week-old birds had higher cholesterol and uric acid values than other age groups. Plasma calcium, phosphorus and magnesium values did not differ across the age profiles sampled.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Studies, Murdoch University, Western Australia.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Swan
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000097:blood*; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D012016:Reference Values; D014904:Western Australia