title: Chronic Vitamin D Intoxication in Captive Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus).
abstract: To document the biochemical and pathologic features of vitamin D intoxication in lynx and to characterize mineral metabolism in healthy lynx, blood samples were obtained from 40 captive lynx that had been receiving excessive (approximately 30 times the recommended dose) vitamin D3 in the diet, and from 29 healthy free ranging lynx. Tissue samples (kidney, stomach, lung, heart and aorta) were collected from 13 captive lynx that died as a result of renal disease and from 3 controls. Vitamin D intoxication resulted in renal failure in most lynx (n = 28), and widespread extraskeletal calcification was most severe in the kidneys and less prominent in cardiovascular tissues. Blood minerals and calciotropic hormones in healthy lynx were similar to values reported in domestic cats except for calcitriol which was higher in healthy lynx. Changes in mineral metabolism after vitamin D intoxication included hypercalcemia (12.0 ± 0.3 mg/dL), hyperphosphatemia (6.3 ± 0.4 mg/dL), increased plasma calcidiol (381.5 ± 28.2 ng/mL) and decreased plasma parathyroid hormone (1.2 ± 0.7 pg/mL). Hypercalcemia and, particularly, hyperphosphatemia were of lower magnitude that what has been previously reported in the course of vitamin D intoxication in other species. However, extraskeletal calcifications were severe. The data suggest that lynx are sensitive to excessive vitamin D and extreme care should be taken when supplementing this vitamin in captive lynx diets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicina y Cirugia Animal, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicina y Cirugia Animal, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Hospital Veterinario San Francisco-La Carolina, Jaen, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicina y Cirugia Animal, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raya
authors.affiliation: Proyecto Life Iberlince, Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucia, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicina y Cirugia Animal, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Escolástico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguilera-Tejero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D002415:Cats; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000633:toxicity; D056727:Endangered Species; D005260:Female; D046008:Lynx / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D