Glossary & References / Biochemistry Normal Values - List / Definitions:
Ý ß Biochem11- Normal Biochemistry Values for Ursus maritimus - Polar bear

Reference Values

(Please note that the references are given in the units in the original publication and that "SD" represents "Standard Deviation" Reference ranges are only as good as the data entered, and as consistent as the laboratory standards allow.  Users should use their professional judgement in viewing these values

THIS BOX MAY SCROLL HORIZONTALLY WITH MORE REFERENCES)

Parameter

Units

 Ref 1.
Mean +/- SD		 Ref 1.
Range		 Ref 2.
Range		 Ref 3.
Mean +/- SD		 Ref 3.
Median (90% Centrad Range)		 Ref 4.
Mean +/- SD		 Ref 4.
Median (Range)		 Ref 5.
Mean  (Range)		 Ref 6.
Mean +/- 		 Ref 6.
Range		 Ref 7.
Range		 Ref 8.
 Range 		 Ref 9. 
Range of means

Units

 Parameter
Total Protein g/dL 8.0 +/- 0.9 6.1 - 10.9 4.9 - 9.4     7.1 +/- 0.6 7.1 (5.9 - 8.2)             g/dl Total Protein
g/L       76 +/- 6 77 (67 - 85)       84.3 +/- 1.4 80.3 - 88.9 64.9 - 119.5 76 - 89   g/L
Albumin g/dL 4.6 +/- 0.0 4.6 - 4.6 2.9 - 4.6                     g/dl Albumin
g/L       46 +/- 4.4 47 (43 - 51)                 g/L
%                 55 +/- 3 --       %
Globulin g/dL 4.1 +/- 0.9 2.2 - 7.1 2.0 - 5.7                     g/dl Globulin
g/L       29 +/- 4 29 (23 - 38)                 g/L
%                 α1: 6 +/- 2
α2: 7 +/- 1
β: 11 +/- 1
γ: 23 +/- 2 		 --
       %
Albumin/
Globulin		                               Albumin/
Globulin
Calcium mg/dL 9.2 +/- 0.7 7.4 - 11.0 5.4 - 10.7     8.0 +/- 0.6 (Ad.)
9.5 +/- 0.6 (cubs)		 8.9 (7.7 - 9.7 (Ad.)
9.5 (8.6 - 10.9) (cubs)		         9.0 - 12.2 mg%   mg/dl Calcium
mmol/lL       2.5 +/- 0.2 1.2 (2.3 - 2.8)     5.8 mEq/L (one bear) 2.3 +/- 0.1 2.1 - 2.6 2.12 - 3.04     mmol/l
Magnesium mg/dL               2.1 (1.6 - 2.6)           mg/dl Magnesium
mmol/L       0.8 +/- 0.1 0.9 (0.6 - 1.0)           0.42 - 1.19     mmol/L
Phosphorus mg/dl 5.9 +/- 1.0 4.1 - 9.1 4.3 - 7.6     5.0 +/- 1.7 5.1 (3.3 - 7.9)         4.8 - 6.16 mg%   mg/dl Phosphorus
mmol/lL       2.0 +/- 0.3 2.0 (1.6 - 2.7)       1.8 +/- 0.1 1.5 - 2.0 1.96 - 2.88     mmol/l
Sodium mEq/L or  mmol/L 138 +/- 5 125 - 151 133 - 148 138 +/- 5.4 137 (130 - 147) 140 +/- 7 141 (123 - 157) 139 (135 - 141) 140.6 +/- 2.7 135 - 149 133.4 - 153     mEq/L or mmol/L Sodium
µg/mL                       315 - 365 mg%   µg/ml
Potassium mEq/L or mmol/L 4.2 +/- 0.4 3.3 - 5.3 3.1 - 5.2 3.7 +/- 0.4 3.6 (3 - 4.5) 3.8 +/- 0.5 3.7 (2.2 - 3.9) 3.9 (2.1 - 5.7) 4.1 +/- 0.3 3.5 - 5.1 3.61 - 7.24     mEq/L or mmol/l Potassium
µg/mL                       17.0 - 23.5 mg%   µg/ml
Chloride

 

 mEq/L or mmol/lL 104 +/- 3 96 - 115 88 - 114 100 +/- 3.6 100 (94 - 105) 101 +/- 3.7 102 (94 - 108) 96.2 (91.5 - 100.0)     96.7 - 118     mEq/L or mmol/l Chloride

 
mgm%                           mgm%
Creatinine mg/dL 1.2 +/- 0.4 0.4 - 2.4 0.6 - 2.7                 0.4 - 6.5 mg%   mg/dl Creatinine
μmol/L                 126.8 +/- 13.6 µmol/L 86 - 159 µmol/L 55.7 - 275 µmol/L     mmol/l
Urea nitrogen mg/dL 20 +/- 8 5 - 43 3.9 - 64.7                     mg/dl BUN (Urea nitrogen)
mmol/lL                           mmol/l
Uric acid mg/dL                           mg/dl Uric acid
mmol/lL                           mmol/l
Cholesterol mg/dL 288 +/- 50 174 - 451 151 - 638     357 +/- 67 348 (153 - 525)             mg/dl Cholesterol
mmol/lL                     4.24 - 8.07     mmol/l
Glucose mg/dL 114 +/- 32 69 - 230 61 - 168     94 +/- 36 (Oct)
127 +/- 18 (Nov)		 93 (48 - 156 (Oct)
129 (94 - 156) (Nov)		         75.8 - 132   mg/dl Glucose
mmol/lL                     4.2 - 7.8     mmol/l
Iron μg/dL                     12 - 54 μmol/L (67 - 302 mg%) 35 - 145 μg%   μg/dl Iron
AST (SGOT) iu/lL 79 +/- 32 24 - 197 16 - 90 67 +/- 37 53 (37 - 132) 26.7 +/- 11.3 (snare)
15.7 +/- 4.4 (culv.)		 24.0 (11.0 - 55.0) (snare)
17.0 (8.0 - 21.0) (culv.)		   0.79 +/- 0.16 nmol/L 0.48 - 1.02 nmol/L 18 - 73 33 - 158   iu/l AST (SGOT)
ALT (SGPT) iu/lL 40 +/- 29 8 - 198 8 - 29 24 +/- 9 24 (10 - 42) 5.4 +/- 3.2 5.0 (0.0 - 15.0)   0.4 +/- 0.07 nmol/L 0.23 - 0.54 nmol/L 5 - 27 9 - 31   iu/l ALT (SGPT)
LDH iu/lL       532 +/- 300 764 (523 - 1178) 243 +/- 77 (snare)
154 +/- 47 (culv.)		 220 (128 - 406)  (snare)
157 (37 - 216) (culv.)		             iu/l LDH
CPK (CK) iu/L 53 +/- 42 5 - 297 54 - 384 251 +/- 395 130 (55 - 1519)             8.2 - 49   iu/L CPK (CK)
Amylase SU       2 +/- 1.4 (0 - 5)                 SU Amylase
iu/L                           iu/l
Alkaline phosphatase iu/lL     0 - 31 51 +/- 36 (17 -141) 151 +/- 8.2 (Ad.**)
45.7 +/- 37.5 (cubs)		 14.0 (4.0 - 30.0) (Ad.**)
27.0 (8.0 - 118.0) (cubs)		   0.81 +/-0.14 µmol/L 0.37 - 1.24 µmol/L 4.5 - 70.38 9 - 26   iu/l Alkaline phosphatase
GGT iu/lL     16 - 176               3.4 - 211.2     iu/l GGT
Lipase iu/lL       47 +/- 37 (10 - 107)                 iu/l Lipase
Total bilirubin mg/dL 0.2 +/- 0.2 0.0 - 0.9 0 - 0.2 1 +/- 0.6 g/L   0.44 +/- 0.13
0.25 +/- 0.13 (conv.*)		 0.4 (0.2 - 0.8)
0.3 (0.08 - 0.4) (conv.*)		         0.0 - 0.3 mg%   mg/dl Total bilirubin
μmol/L                 5.0 +/- 1.3 0.88 - 7.81 4.98     μmol/l
Direct (conjugated) bilirubin mg/dL 0.1 +/- 0.1 0.0 - 0.2       0.28 +/- 0.12
0.1 +/- 0.05 (conv.*)		 0.3 [error in range]
0.1 (0.0 - 0.2) (conv.*)		             mg/dl Direct bilirubin
μmol/L                           μmol/l
Indirect (free) bilirubin mg/dL 0.1 +/- 0.1 0.0 - 0.4       0.15 +/- 0.09 0.16 (0.0 - 0.3)             mg/dl Indirect bilirubin
μmol/L                           μmol/l
Triglycerides mg/dL       2.7 +/- 0.9 2.4 (1.6 - 4.2)                 mg/dl Triglycerides
Bicarbonate mEq/dl                           mEq/dl Bicarbonate
mmol/lL                           mmol/l 
Carbon dioxide mEq/dL                           mEq/dl Carbon dioxide
mmol/L                           mmol/l
Cortisol nmol/L       557 +/- 200 500 (151 - 883)                 nmol/L Cortisol

Return to top of page

Reference 1.
Wildpro Data Source B336.51.w51
Ref Title Ursidae and Hyenidae. In: Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Fifth Edition
Ref Author(s) Ramsay, E.C.
Animal Details --
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments Data from ISIS, October 1999

Return to top of page

Reference 2.
Wildpro Data Source B379.19.w19
Ref Title Clinical Pathology. In: CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine Second Edition
Ref Author(s) Bossart, G.D., Reidarson, T.H., Dierauf, L.A. & Duffield, D.A.
Animal Details Wild polar bears, varying number of samples 18 to 151.
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments --

Return to top of page

Reference 3.
Wildpro Data Source J1.38.w4
Ref Title Plasma biochemical values from apparently healthy free-ranging polar bears from Svalbard
Ref Author(s) Tryland, M., Brun, E., Derocher, A.E., Amemo, J.M., Kierulf, P., Olberg, R.-A. & Wiig, O.
Animal Details Fifteen female and 20 male polar bears
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments The following were noted: (J1.38.w4)
  • Mean phosphorus was significantly higher in males than in females.
  • Lipase was nearly twice as high in females as in males.
  • Several values varied with age (comparing bears under six years of age with those in the 6 - 13 years group and with those older than 13 years of age): calcium and potassium both decreased slightly with age; ALP, CK and LDH all decreased with age; Albumin decreased in the oldest age group, globulin increased with age as did gamma-globulin. 
  • The urea:creatinine ratio varied from 4.5 to 44.9, with mean 10.9 SD 7.8. 
  • There were no significant differences in cortisol level with relation to age or sex.

(J1.38.w4)

Return to top of page

Reference 4.
Wildpro Data Source J40.41.w1
Ref Title Some blood values of wild polar bears
Ref Author(s) Lee, J., Ronald, K. & Oritsland, N.A.
Animal Details Wild polar bears sampled October to November, immobilized at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, by capture in a culvert trap or foot snare followed by injection of phencyclidine using remote injection or a pole syringe. Approximately 30 bears per value.
Laboratory Techniques Plasma and serum were stored frozen at - 20 °C. Time between sampling and analysis was four to eight days (mean five days).
Comments
  • snare = foot snare, culv. = culvert-trapped. LDH and SGOT were significantly higher (P <0.001 for each enzyme) in foot-snared bears than in culvert-trapped bears. This was probably due to striated muscle trauma in the snared bears. 
  • * conv. : bears which suffered from convulsions under phencyclidine anaesthesia.
  • **: Ad. = Adult, cubs = cubs. Alkaline phosphatase and calcium levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01 and P < 0.025) in cubs than in adults. 
  • Blood glucose was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in November than in October.
  • Aberrant values (those more than three standard deviations away from the mean) were not included in calculations.

(J40.41.w1)

Return to top of page

Reference 5.
Wildpro Data Source J30.44.w1
Ref Title Electrolytes in tissues, red cells, and plasma of the polar bear and caribou
Ref Author(s) Manery, J.F., Barlow, J.S. & Forbes, J.M.
Animal Details Three bears shot after wandering into a campsite. Blood was taken as soon as possible after death, immediately centrifuged, and rbc were removed from plasma within three hours. 
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments --

Return to top of page

Reference 6.
Wildpro Data Source P5.30.w2
Ref Title Blood count and biochemistry of blood serum of polar bear (Thalarctos maritimus) and Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Ref Author(s) Stuhrberg, E.
Animal Details Three to five samples per value (mainly five), bears at Tierpark Berlin.
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments --

Return to top of page

Reference 7.
Wildpro Data Source P5.30.w3
Ref Title Weitere Hamatologische und Biochemische Befunde von Gesunden und Kranken Ursiden (Thalarctos maritimus, Ursus arctos und Helarctos malayanus) [Additional heamatological and biochemical findings recorded from clinically intact and pathologically affected ursine animals (Thalarctos maritimus, Ursus arctos and Helarctos malayanus)]
Ref Author(s) Kuntze, A. & Hundsdorf, P.
Animal Details 12 to 33 samples per value.
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments --

Return to top of page

Reference 8.
Wildpro Data Source P5.27.w1
Ref Title Hamatologische und Biochemische Parameter von Gesunden und Kranken Eisbaren (Thalarctos maritimus) und Baunbaren (Ursus arctos) [Haematological and biochemical parameters of clinically intact and pathologically affected polar bears (Thalarctos maritimus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos)]
Ref Author(s) Kuntze, A. & Hundsdorf, P.
Animal Details Four to 15 samples per value.
Laboratory Techniques --
Comments --

Return to top of page

Other Major Databases with Reference Values
Some database systems generate normal values on an on-going basis, and some organisations publish information within animal management guidelines. As the normal values do vary as more information is added, the links to these databases are provided, rather than incorporating the actual data.

Some of these databases do charge for access, or may have restricted access and enquiries should be made directly to the database providers.

Return to top of page