Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Rescue Center of Wild Fauna of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Forestas, Italy.
J Equine Vet Sci. 2020 Nov;94:103220. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103220. Epub 2020 Aug 7.
Wildlife protection and management are important priorities for landscape identity and biodiversity preservation. Feeding practices of fauna confined in facilities during temporary captivity are fundamental to support animal health and natural behavior. Appropriate provision of feedstuffs appears to be necessary to support the best practices in respect of animal species-specific natural diet. This investigation explored the variation of the metabolic profile by means of selected metabolite and respective circulating levels in a group feral Giara horses undergoing the change of the diet, moving from natural free grazing in the wild to temporary captivity. Six Giara horses (4 mares and 2 stallions; estimated age: 2.5-3 years; body weight: 163-170 kg) were captured to monitor the serological reaction to equine infectious anemia (EIA; screening at Coggins test). Animals were sheltered in a wildlife rescue center for a duration of 4 weeks, and all received the same hay-based diet (ad libitum). On 0 and 28 days of captivity, blood serum alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH) concentration was determined alongside selected metabolites (liver enzymes, total protein and fractions, cholesterol, triglycerides, and macrominerals and trace elements). Comparative feces quality and composition were also assessed. Both serum samples (0 vs. 28 days) displayed α-TOH levels below (<2 μg/mL) adequacy established for the domestic horse. Initial levels markedly (P = .020) decreased after the 4 weeks of captivity (Δ = -32.5%). Vitamin E status and ALT levels varied significantly, but serum protein fractions did not point to significant variations before and after captivity. All horses tested negative to EIA. Monitoring of vitamin E status of wild and feral herbivores may be recommendable in the context of adequate feeding practices during captivity to prevent potential deficiency or excessive depletion.
野生动物保护和管理是景观身份和生物多样性保护的重要优先事项。在临时圈养期间，对圈养动物的饲养实践对于支持动物健康和自然行为至关重要。适当提供饲料似乎是支持动物特定自然饮食最佳实践的必要条件。本研究通过一组在改变饮食时经历变化的野生贾拉马（Giara horses）的选定代谢物和相应循环水平来探讨代谢谱的变化，从在野外自由放牧到临时圈养。为了监测马传染性贫血（EIA；通过 Coggins 测试进行筛查）的血清反应，捕获了六匹贾拉马（4 匹母马和 2 匹种马；估计年龄：2.5-3 岁；体重：163-170 公斤）。这些动物被安置在野生动物救援中心，为期 4 周，并且都接受相同的以干草为基础的饮食（自由采食）。在圈养的第 0 和 28 天，测定了血清α-生育酚（α-TOH）浓度以及选定的代谢物（肝脏酶、总蛋白和分数、胆固醇、甘油三酯、以及宏量矿物质和微量元素）。还评估了比较粪便质量和组成。两份血清样本（0 天与 28 天）的α-TOH 水平均低于（<2μg/mL）为家马建立的充足水平。在 4 周的圈养后，初始水平明显（P=0.020）下降（Δ=-32.5%）。维生素 E 状态和 ALT 水平变化显著，但血清蛋白分数在圈养前后没有明显变化。所有马匹的 EIA 检测均为阴性。在圈养期间，监测野生和野生食草动物的维生素 E 状态可能有助于适当的饲养实践，以防止潜在的缺乏或过度消耗。
