title: Serum amyloid A as an indicator of health status in falcons.
abstract: Serum amyloid A (SAA) is used as an indicator of health status in many species. To investigate the possible use of SAA as a health indicator in falcons, SAA levels were measured in 259 falcons of varying species and health status. A significant increase (P < .001) in SAA concentrations was observed in falcons affected by inflammatory disease compared with healthy birds and birds with noninflammatory disease. Serum amyloid A concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 6.8 mg/L (mean [SD], 3.4 +/- 1.4 mg/L) in the healthy group, from 0.8 to 8.5 mg/L (mean [SD], 4.0 +/- 3.1 mg/L) in the group with noninflammatory disease, and from 2.3 to 137.5 mg/L (mean [SD], 47.7 +/- 29.7 mg/L) in the group with inflammatory disease. In birds with chronic pododermatitis or fungal pneumonia/airsacculitis, SAA levels remained significantly increased throughout the study period. These results indicate that SAA concentrations can be used in avian medicine to assess the health status of falcons and as a prognostic indicator of certain pathologic disease processes.
authors: Al Wasl Veterinary Clinic, PO Box 75565, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Caliendo
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: McKinney
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Bailey
authors: Joerg
authors: J
authors: Kinne
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Wernery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D046093:Falconiformes; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein