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Article
Normal reference intervals and the effects of time and feeding on serum bile acid concentrations in llamas
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (1998)
  • Claire B. Andreasen, Oregon State University
  • Erwin G. Pearson, Oregon State University
  • Brad B. Smith, Oregon State University
  • Terry C. Gerros, Oregon State University
  • Duane Lassen, Oregon State University
Abstract

Fifty clinically healthy llamas, 0.5–13 years of age (22 intact males, 10 neutered males, 18 females), with no biochemical evidence of liver disease or hematologic abnormalities, were selected to establish serum bile acid reference intervals. Serum samples submitted to the clinical pathology laboratory were analyzed using a colorimetric enzymatic assay to establish bile acid reference intervals. A nonparametric distribution of llama bile acid concentrations was 1–23 mmol/liter for llamas .1 year of age and 10–44 mmol/liter for llamas #1 year of age. A significant difference was found between these 2 age groups. No correlation was detected between gender and bile acid concentrations. The reference intervals were 1.1–22.9 mmol/liter for llamas .1 year of age and 1.8–49.8 mmol/liter for llamas #1 year of age. Additionally, a separate group of 10 healthy adult llamas (5 males, 5 females, 5–11 years of age) without biochemical or hematologic abnormalities was selected to assess the effects of feeding and time intervals on serum bile acid concentrations. These 10 llamas were provided fresh water and hay ad libitum, and serum samples were obtained via an indwelling jugular catheter hourly for 11 hours. Llamas were then kept from food overnight (12 hours), and subsequent samples were taken prior to feeding (fasting baseline time, 23 hours after trial initiation) and postprandially at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours. In feeding trials, there was no consistent interaction between bile acid concentrations and time, feeding, or 12-hour fasting. Prior feeding or time of day did not result in serum bile acid concentrations outside the reference interval, but concentrations from individual llamas varied within this interval over time.

Publication Date
April 1, 1998
Publisher Statement

This article is from Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation10 (1998): 174-178, doi:10.1177/104063879801000210. Posted with permission.

Citation Information
Claire B. Andreasen, Erwin G. Pearson, Brad B. Smith, Terry C. Gerros, et al.. "Normal reference intervals and the effects of time and feeding on serum bile acid concentrations in llamas" Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation Vol. 10 (1998)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/claire_andreasen/5/