Glutamate dehydrogenase has diagnostic utility for detecting liver disease in African penguins (Sphensicus demersus)

• DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.12.0410
• Publication Date: 2025-03-28T12:44:13Z
• Authors: Molly E. Martony; Carolyn Cray; Amy Delmonaco; Steven E. Nelson; Laura A. Thompson; Nicole I. Stacy
• Keywords: Liver disease

To establish reference intervals for plasma glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) in clinically healthy African penguins and 2) to investigate GLDH activities antemortem from birds with confirmed liver disease postmortem. In this observational case-control study, the histopathological reports of all (n = 12) at one zoological institution were reviewed over a 19-year period identify disease. A single archived sample was evaluated each birds, 2 4 different time points samples The prevalence 58% (7/12). Histopathological findings included hemosiderosis 4; 3 mild, 1 severe), hepatitis (2), metastatic neoplasia (2; melanoma, proventriculus carcinoma), hepatic necrosis lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates (1). 29 penguins, ranged 0 12.14 U/L (mean, 6.01; interval, 13.55 U/L) without any effects sex, age, or weight. that exceeded normal necrotizing heterophilic hepatitis, mild sinusoidal yolk emboli severe hemosiderosis, necrosis. Glutamate had positive correlations ALT AST appears be useful predictor avians as mammals. However, biomarker is able rule disease, although it cannot definitively out. These data serve advance understanding noninvasive diagnosis which may ultimately contribute advancement care conservation at-risk species.