SERUM PROTEINOGRAM IN FREE-LIVING AND CAPTIVE GIANT ANTEATERS (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

Abstract

Thirty-eight adult free-living giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), 17 males and 21 females, and 33 captive giant anteaters, 13 males and 20 females, were analyzed for serum proteinogram obtained by sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamyde gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). No statistical difference related to gender was observed. The free-living giant anteaters serum proteinograms had 47 proteins with molecular weight (MW) ranging from 12,000 to 123,000 D. The captive giant anteaters serum proteinograms had 42 proteins, with same MW range; it had no proteins with MW 53,700, 50,000, 34,000, 27,700, and 13,000 D. The free- living M. tridactyla had values significantly higher for the proteins with MW 98,000, 94,000, 61,500, 54,000, 32,000, 15,000, and 12,000 D, as compared to captive M. tridactyla. Serum albumin concentrations reported in domestic animals, 2.0 g/dL to 4.0 g/dL, is higher than that of M. tridactyla, 1.48±0.08 g/dL (Group 2) to 1.53±0.09 g/dL (Group 1). In contrast, M. tridactyla serum globulin levels were higher than those reported in literature for domestic animals. The results indicate that differences in the M. tridactyla serum proteinogram probably are related to environmental and nutritional conditions, and can be used as reference values in these situations. KEY-WORDS: Giant anteater. Myrmecophaga tridactyla. Serum proteinogram.