Protein electrophoresis of psittacine plasma.
BACKGROUND
Although protein electrophoresis (EPH) has been widely applied in human and veterinary medicine, it has only recently been implemented in the analysis of avian samples.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the application of protein EPH to the analysis of psittacine plasma samples. Our goals were to describe protein fraction mobility, establish reference intervals for some common species, determine the coefficient of variation (CV) of the chosen method, and examine the effects of sample handling and sample condition.


METHODS
Heparinized plasma samples from several common psittacine species (minimum sample size 50 each) were examined using the Beckman Paragon system and SPEP-II gels. Total protein was measured by refractometry. Reference intervals (95%) were calculated by the rank methods.


RESULTS
Fraction migration patterns were found to vary among common psittacine species. Day-to-day CV for the EPH fractions ranged from 2.2% to 10.5%; within-run CV ranged from 4.8% to 10.8%; and total CV ranged from 3.2% to 14.8%. The highest CV was noted for the poorly defined alpha-globulin fraction. Prolonged refrigeration, repeated freeze-thawing, hemolysis, and lipemia altered the results.


CONCLUSIONS
Protein fractions from psittacine species were variable in terms of migration pattern and protein concentration, which necessitates the use of species-specific reference intervals. Avian protein electrophoretic patterns and values should be interpreted based on knowledge of the CV associated with the technique as well as on the effects of sample handling and condition.
Cray
Carolyn
C
Division of Comparative Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. c.cray@miami.edu
Rodriguez
Marilyn
M
Zaias
Julia
J
D000818:Animals; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood; D006461:Hemolysis; D006949:Hyperlipidemias; D011563:Psittaciformes / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary
D001798:Blood Proteins