title: Effect of diet on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)-D) were diagnosed in captive short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) from three different zoological facilities within Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum 25(OH)-D concentration in the wild echidnas was 24.7 nmol/L and was significantly higher in captive echidnas from all three facilities: Facility 1, mean 335.5 nmol/L (P < 0.001); Facility 2, mean 187.2 nmol/L (P = 0.003); Facility 3, mean 194 nmol/L (P = 0.005). Animals did not appear to have clinical manifestations of vitamin D toxicosis. The increased serum 25(OH)-D concentration was attributed to excessive dietary intake and a reduction in the amount of vitamin D(3) in the diet of echidnas from Facility 1 resulted in a marked decrease in the serum 25(OH)-D concentrations (mean 33 nmol/L). The reduction in serum 25(OH)-D concentration was statistically significant (P = 0.002) and the resulting concentrations were similar to those of wild echidnas (P = 0.212).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is not known what effect an elevated serum 25(OH)-D concentration has on echidnas.
authors: Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, Victoria 3777, Australia. fscheelings@zoo.org.au
authors: T F
authors: TF
authors: Scheelings
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Haynes
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012016:Reference Values; D004442:Tachyglossidae / Q000097:blood*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D