“Electrophoretic patterns in european wild birds of prey”

Electrophoresis is a powerful diagnostic tool in mammals, often fundamental to obtain the diagnosis when used in conjunction with other laboratory investigations. Anyway the lack of reference patterns in electrophoretograms in most of the species of wild birds of prey make this laboratory investigation still in its infancy. In this work standard electrophoresis patterns were carried out in several species of wild raptors. This laboratory investigation was performed on the serum of 20 Eurasian Buzzards (Buteo buteo), 20 Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis),20 Saker falcon (Falco cherrrug), 20 Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus), 20 Merlin (Falco columbarius), 20 Owls (Athene noctua),20 Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and 20 Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo). The electrophoretograms obtained in these species were analyzed: each peak of protein fraction was observed regarding shape and time of migration. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a pre-albumin fraction in each specie was considered. In literature several works (Kurye,1985;Spano,1988;Clubb,1990;Quesenberry,1991; Cray,1995;Reidarson,1995;Lumeji,1996;Cray,1997;Fudge,1997; Tatum,2000;Zaias,2000;Rosenthal,2000;Lanzarote,2001;Blanco,2003; Gelli,2005) demonstrate variations in electrophoretograms, related to physiological and pathological conditions. Gaining knowledge in interpreting the electrophoretogram in the avian patient, with attention to raptors, is the aim of this study, to make this laboratory investigation technique a routinary test as it is in mammals.