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1 December 2014 VITAMIN A VALUES OF WILD-CAUGHT CUBAN TREE FROGS (OSTEOPILUS SEPTENTRIONALIS) AND MARINE TOADS (RHINELLA MARINA) IN WHOLE BODY, LIVER, AND SERUM
Kathleen E. Sullivan, Greg Fleming, Scott Terrell, Dustin Smith, Frank Ridgley, Eduardo V. Valdes
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Abstract

Recent issues surrounding captive amphibians are often nutritionally related problems, such as hypovitaminosis A. Although supplementation of frogs with vitamin A is a topic of investigation, the underlying issue is understanding vitamin A metabolism in amphibian species. To develop a range of “normal” vitamin A concentrations for captive amphibians, baseline vitamin A concentrations must be established in wild amphibian species. In this study, two species, Cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis; n = 59) and marine toads (Rhinella marina; n = 20) were collected from the wild as part of an invasive species control program at Zoo Miami, Miami, Florida. Serum, liver, and whole body samples were analyzed for vitamin A content. The Cuban tree frogs showed higher concentrations on average of vitamin A in serum (82.8 ppb), liver (248.3 IU/g), and whole body (5474.7 IU/kg) samples compared with marine toads (60.1 ppb; 105.3 IU/g; 940.7 IU/kg, respectively), but differences were not significant (P = 0.22). What can be considered “normal” values of vitamin A concentrations across different amphibian species requires further investigation. Although all amphibians collected in this study appeared healthy, a larger sample size of animals, with known health histories and diets, may provide stronger evidence of normal expectations.

Copyright 2014 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Kathleen E. Sullivan, Greg Fleming, Scott Terrell, Dustin Smith, Frank Ridgley, and Eduardo V. Valdes "VITAMIN A VALUES OF WILD-CAUGHT CUBAN TREE FROGS (OSTEOPILUS SEPTENTRIONALIS) AND MARINE TOADS (RHINELLA MARINA) IN WHOLE BODY, LIVER, AND SERUM," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 45(4), 892-895, (1 December 2014). https://doi.org/10.1638/2013-0289.1
Received: 5 December 2013; Published: 1 December 2014
KEYWORDS
amphibian
Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
liver
marine toad (Rhinella marina)
Serum
vitamin A
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