title: Vitamin D status of wild Ricord's iguanas (Cyclura ricordii) and captive and wild rhinoceros iguanas (Cyclura cornuta cornuta) in the Dominican Republic.
abstract: Calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D) values are reported for 22 wild Ricord's iguanas (Cyclura ricordii) and seven wild rhinoceros iguanas (Cyclura cornuta cornuta). Calcitriol (1,25-hydroxyvitamin D) values are reported for 12 wild Ricord's iguanas and seven wild rhinoceros iguanas. These animals were captured as part of a larger health assessment study being conducted on Ricord's iguanas in Isla Cabritos National Park, Dominican Republic. A total of 13 captive rhinoceros iguanas held outdoors at Parque Zoológico Nacional were also sampled for comparison. Mean concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 554 nmol/L (222 ng/ml) with a range of 250-1,118 nmol/L (100-448 ng/ml) for wild Ricord's iguanas, 332 nmol/L (133 ng/ml) with a range of 260-369 nmol/L (104-148 ng/ml) for wild rhinoceros iguanas, and 317 nmol/L (127 ng/ml) with a range of 220-519 nmol/L (88-208 ng/ml) for captive rhinoceros iguanas. On the basis of these results, serum concentrations of at least 325 nmol/L (130 ng/ml) for 25-hydroxyvitamin D should be considered normal for healthy Ricord's and rhinoceros iguanas.
authors.affiliation: Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222, USA.
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ramer
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reichard
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tolson
authors.forename: Tai C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood*; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000097:blood*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D004293:Dominican Republic; D007076:Iguanas / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D013045:Species Specificity; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D002117:Calcitriol