Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1285:233-253. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-54462-1_12.
Proteins are large polymers of amino acids (AAs) linked via peptide bonds, and major components for the growth and development of tissues in zoo animals (including mammals, birds, and fish). The proteinogenic AAs are alanine, arginine, aspartate, asparagine, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. Except for glycine, they are all present in the L-isoform. Some carnivores may also need taurine (a nonproteinogenic AA) in their diet. Adequate dietary intakes of AAs are necessary for the growth, development, reproduction, health and longevity of zoo animals. Extensive research has established dietary nutrient requirements for humans, domestic livestock and companion animals. However, this is not true for many exotic or endangered species found in zoos due to the obstacles that accompany working with these species. Information on diets and nutrient profiles of free-ranging animals is needed. Even with adequate dietary intake of crude protein, dietary AAs may still be unbalanced, which can lead to nutrition-related diseases and disorders commonly observed in captive zoo species, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, urolithiasis, gut dysbiosis, and hormonal imbalances. There are differences in AA metabolism among carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. It is imperative to consider these idiosyncrasies when formulating diets based on established nutritional requirements of domestic species. With optimal health, populations of zoo animals will have a vastly greater chance of thriving in captivity. For endangered species especially, maintaining stable captive populations is crucial for conservation. Thus, adequate provision of AAs in diets plays a crucial role in the management, sustainability and expansion of healthy zoo animals.
蛋白质是由通过肽键连接的氨基酸（AAs）组成的大分子聚合物，是动物园动物（包括哺乳动物、鸟类和鱼类）组织生长和发育的主要成分。组成蛋白质的氨基酸有丙氨酸、精氨酸、天冬氨酸、天冬酰胺、半胱氨酸、谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺、甘氨酸、组氨酸、异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、苯丙氨酸、脯氨酸、丝氨酸、苏氨酸、色氨酸、酪氨酸和缬氨酸。除了甘氨酸外，它们都是 L-异构体。一些肉食动物的饮食中可能还需要牛磺酸（一种非组成蛋白质的氨基酸）。动物园动物的生长、发育、繁殖、健康和长寿都需要足够的膳食氨基酸摄入。人类、家畜和伴侣动物的饮食营养素需求已经得到了广泛的研究。然而，对于动物园中许多外来或濒危物种来说，这并不适用，因为与这些物种合作存在障碍。需要了解自由放养动物的饮食和营养状况。即使摄入了足够的粗蛋白，饮食中的氨基酸也可能仍然不平衡，这可能导致在圈养动物园物种中常见的与营养有关的疾病和紊乱，如扩张型心肌病、尿石症、肠道菌群失调和激素失衡。肉食动物、草食动物和杂食动物的氨基酸代谢存在差异。在根据已确立的家畜营养需求制定饮食时，必须考虑到这些特殊性。只有保持最佳健康状态，动物园动物的种群才更有可能在圈养中茁壮成长。对于濒危物种来说，维持稳定的圈养种群对于保护至关重要。因此，在饮食中充分提供氨基酸对于动物园动物的管理、可持续性和健康扩展起着至关重要的作用。
