title: Blood Serum Chemistry of Wild Alaskan Black-capped Chickadees ( Poecile atricapillus ) with Avian Keratin Disorder.
abstract: We measured serum chemistries in wild Black-capped Chickadees ( Poecile atricapillus ) from Alaska to test for potential differences associated with beak deformities characteristic of avian keratin disorder. Lower uric acid in affected birds was the only difference detected between groups, although sample sizes were small. This difference could be associated with fasting or malnutrition in birds with beak deformities, but it is challenging to interpret its biologic significance without reference values. Black-capped Chickadees had high levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase relative to reference values for companion birds. However, all serum chemistry parameters from our study were within the range of values reported from other apparently healthy wild-caught birds.
authors.affiliation: 1 US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Hemert
authors.affiliation: 1 US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Handel
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D001502:Beak / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D020308:Songbirds
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins
keywords: Avian keratin disorder; Black-capped Chickadee; beak deformity; serum chemistry; uric acid