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The purpose of this study was to quantify the ultraviolet B (UVB) output and in vitro previtamin D3 synthesis over time from various artificial light sources. Three incandescent lamps, T-Rex Active UVHeat 160 watt spot, T-Rex Active UVHeat 160 watt flood, and ZooMed PowerSun 160 watt flood, and two 1.2 m fluorescent lamps, Sylvania Blacklight 350 BL and ZooMed Reptisun 5.0, were studied. Total UVB irradiance and concentration of previtamin D synthesized using an in vitro ampoule model were quantified initially and at monthly intervals for 1 year. Incandescent lamps were measured at distances of 0.9 and 1.5 m while fluorescent lamps were measured at distances of 30.5 and 45.7 cm at the lamp's center, using both the radiometer and ampoules. Fluorescent lamp irradiance was also measured at the lamp's ends. Data were analyzed as a repeated measures split-plot in time using SAS with all mean differences determined using Least Squares Means. Incandescent lamp irradiance differences were seen at various distances. The UVHeat lamps had consistently higher previtamin D3 production and irradiance readings compared with the PowerSun lamp. Reptisun 5.0 was consistently higher in UVB irradiance over Sylvania BL 350 at both 30.5 and 45.7 cm. However, there were no differences when comparing conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3. Irradiance differences were detected between the centers and ends of the fluorescent lamps. Until UVB requirements for vitamin D3 synthesis in animals are determined, it is impossible to state that one light is superior to another. Zoo Biol 29:741–752, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Three types of broadband ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiometers were shown to display different irradiances from the same light source. Also, natural light and different lamp types were shown to have different vitamin D–synthesizing potential. Equations relating the irradiance readings from UVB radiometers from Gigahertz-Optik Inc., UVP Inc., and Spectronics Corp. to in vitro vitamin D–synthesizing potential are reported for four UVB sources. Zoo Biol 23:355–363, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We postulated that dietary ingestion of vitamin D may be used by some Alaskan Arctic marine mammal species in addition to, or instead of, cutaneous production to meet nutritional requirements. Zooplankton (n=5) sampled near Kaktovik, Alaska, contained no measurable vitamin D2 or D3, but did contain provitamin D (7-dehydrocholesterol), the cutaneous precursor for previtamin D3 in mammals. Fillets and livers from five fish species were sampled near Barrow, Alaska, and evaluated for vitamin D3 content (no vitamin D2 was detected). Differences in vitamin D3 content appeared significant (P≤0.10) among fish livers (Kruskal-Wallis [H test]=8.25, df=4, P=0.08) and among fish fillets (H=7.80, df=4, P=0.01). We also found significant differences in several pairwise comparisons (Mann-Whitney U-test) of vitamin D3 levels in fillets and livers. Blubber from six species of marine mammals had no detectable vitamin D2. The H test results for blubber vitamin D3 concentration were highly significant: 28.12, df=5, P

The purpose of this work was to measure important nutritional status parameters for a group of free-ranging Mexican mantled howler monkeys (A. palliata mexicana) and compare those data to published data for primates. The nutritional status of six free-ranging Mexican mantled howler monkeys was examined using biochemical analysis. Blood samples were analyzed for serum chemistry; lipids; vitamins D, A, and E; carotenoids; and minerals. Serum chemistries were somewhat different from published values, but did not indicate clear abnormalities. Circulating lipids were not different from those in captive primates. Circulating vitamin D metabolites (83±16.3 for 25(OH)D ng/mL; 563±53.8 for 1,25(OH)2D pg/mL) were similar to those in wild-caught tamarins (Saguinus oedipus), lower than some published data for captive Cebidae and Callitrichidae, and higher than for Old World primates. Serum concentrations of retinol (16.5±1.64 μg/dl) were similar to those in captive spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Retinyl palmitate and retinyl stearate was present in howler samples and may have reflected recent dietary intake. Circulating α-tocopherol (997±97.6 μg/dl) was similar to published values for other primates. Carotenoid levels in howlers were within the ranges reported for many primates. A significant finding was the presence of cadmium in samples that should be further studied. The number of individuals sampled was limited, and further investigation into the effects of seasonality is needed. However, this information provides new data for howler monkeys and for free-ranging primates in general. Zoo Biol 22:239–251, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Having previously documented experimentally the need for ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation (290–315 nm) in the light environment of captive female panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) to ensure hatching success of their eggs, we investigated optimal UVB irradiation levels. From 1996–1998 28 hatchling female panther chameleons were raised to maturity and bred (using vitamin and mineral-fortified insect diets low in vitamin D) in nine different artificial UVB light environments. Seven of the environments included long (12 hr/day) low irradia-tion exposures ranging from 1.7 to 22 μW/cm2 UVB, with a corresponding conversion of provitamin D3 to photoproducts in in vitro models of 0.18 to 1.52% in 2 hr. Two environments included short (0.5 and 1.0 hr/day), high irradiation exposures of 55 and 49 μW/cm2 UVB, respectively, with a corres-ponding conversion of provitamin D3 to photoproducts in in vitro models of 8.3% to 14.6% in the respective 0.5- and 1.0-hr time periods. Females raised with the mid-level long/low exposures (5–15 μW/cm2 UVB; 0.52–1.32% conversion to photoproducts in in vitro models) produced viable eggs with a significantly higher percentage of hatching compared to those with the extreme (highest or lowest) long/low exposures. Those raised with the short-/high-exposure environments produced viable eggs with a generally high percentage of hatching, but success was variable. The results and techniques for light quality assessment are interpreted, with recommendations for practical application by the herpetoculturist desiring to successfully breed panther chameleons in captivity. Zoo Biol 21:525–537, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Rickets and osteomalacia have been reported frequently in captive callitrichids. Some have assumed that these conditions are a consequence of unmet, unusually high requirements for vitamin D and that these high requirements are characteristic of all New World primates. As a consequence, certain commercial diets formulated for New World primates contain such high concentrations of vitamin D that their consumption by other species has resulted in signs of vitamin D toxicity. This study was conducted to assess the vitamin D status of captive cotton-top tamarins consuming diets providing either 2,500 or 26,000 IU of vitamin D3/kg dry matter. These diets had been consumed for at least 2 years before the study, with the lower vitamin D intakes by six tamarins (0.5 to 9 years old) in a zoo colony and the higher vitamin D intakes by 24 tamarins (2 to 12 years old) in a pharmaceutical research laboratory. Although not measured in this study, none of the dietary ingredients has been shown to contain vitamin D2. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in the captive tamarins were compared with serum 25(OH)D concentrations (range, 25.5–120 ng/mL; 64–300 nmol/L) reported by others in healthy wild tamarins in Colombia, South America. Concentrations of 25(OH)D in serum from zoo tamarins consuming 2,500 IU vitamin D3/kg dietary dry matter ranged from 48 to 236 ng/mL (120–590 nmol/L), whereas those in serum from laboratory tamarins fed 26,000 IU vitamin D3/kg dietary dry matter ranged from 11 to 560 ng/mL (28–1,400 nmol/L), with no significant (P > 0.05) association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and sex or age. However, in the laboratory tamarins, serum 25(OH)D concentrations ranged from 46 to 60 ng/mL (115–150 nmol/L) in one 8-year-old male and four 12-year-old females that had four to nine pregnancies each. Younger females (2–5 years old) that had zero or one pregnancy and the other males (3–12 years old) generally had serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 126 ng/mL (315 nmol/L). None of the individuals in the zoo colony showed signs of colitis. Of the two tamarins in the laboratory group with 25(OH)D levels below 50 ng/mL (125 nmol/L), one was a 4-year-old male with anorexia and cachexia associated with severe colitis. The second was a 7-year-old clinically normal, multiparous (five) female with normal hematology and clinical chemistry but histologic evidence of severe colitis. Because all other individuals in this group had histologic evidence of moderate to severe colitis but were normal in other respects, an unequivocal association between low serum 25(OH)D concentrations and colitis was not apparent. A dietary vitamin D3 concentration of 2,500 IU/kg dry matter was more than sufficient to support serum 25(OH)D concentrations equivalent to those found in the wild and, although the number of observations was small, supported apparently normal growth and adult weights, reproduction through five parities, and general health in a zoo colony showing no evidence of colitis. Zoo Biol 18:473–480, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The difference between serum levels from 36 captive and 56 free-ranging polar bears (Ursus maritimus) for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) was found not to be significant (mean ± SD = 348 ± 215 nmol/L [captive], 360 ± 135 nmol/L [free-ranging], t = 0.30, df = 52.8, P = 0.76), whereas the difference for retinol and α-tocopherol was significant (retinol, 1.37 ± 0.67 μmol/L [captive] 1.89 ± 0.63 μmol/L [free-ranging], t = 3.88, df = 72.4, P

We hypothesized the vitamin D-deficient green iguanas with depleted calcium stores would seek to augment calcium intake by self-selection of a high calcium source. Eight green iguanas were offered free-choice ground oystershell in addition to their regular diet. Of these, two had not been exposed to ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation for > 5 years and were demonstrated to be vitamin D-deficient by low circulating levels of the principal vitamin D metabolite, calcidiol (25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol). The six others had been exposed to a UV-B emitting bulb for the previous 3 years and had high circulating calcidiol levels. Average daily food intake (expressed as dry matter per kg body mass) did not differ between the Low-D and High-D iguanas. The daily oystershell intake of the Low-D iguanas (0.02–0.03 g/kg) was lower than that of the High-D iguanas (0.06–0.70 g/kg), leading to a significant difference in calcium intake. The failure of iguanas to increase calcium intake in response to vitamin D-deficiency was puzzling and suggests that vitamin D, as a steroid hormone, may play some role in the expression of calcium appetite. Zoo Biol 16:201–207, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Bone disease related to vitamin D deficiency is an insidious problem in captive colonies of callitrichids. Currently a diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency may be made after the appearance of clinical pathology, usually bone deformities or fractures. The development of assays for vitamin D metabolites suggests it may be possible to detect incipient vitamin D deficiency before animals are adversely affected. However, there are few data on normative levels of these metabolites in any nonhuman primates. We collected blood samples from 18 wild cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) from Colombia and assayed them for 25-hydroxy vitamin D(25-OH-D), the major circulating form of the vitamin, which is believed to be a good indicator of status. Serum concentrations of 25-OH-D averaged 76.4 ng/ml (range 25.5–120 ng/ml). This is high compared with human norms (10–55 ng/ml), but the range is lower than that reported in the literature for captive callitrichids. Juveniles had higher serum concentrations than did adults, and pregnant females had lower concentrations than did nonpregnant females. These data confirm that healthy callitrichids have higher circulating levels of 25-OH-D than do humans, but they suggest that the extremely high levels found in some captive animals (300–600 ng/ml) may be above normal. We propose that serum concentrations of 25-OH-D of 50–120 ng/ml can be considered normal for cotton-top tamarins and perhaps other callitrichids. If serum values much below 50 ng/ml are found during clinical evaluation, the possibility of incipient vitamin D deficiency should be considered. Zoo Biol 16:39–46, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

To assess the importance of diet and light for indoor maintenance, hatchling panther chameleons were reared for 1 year on crickets fed diets that differed in vitamin concentrations and in different light environments. Dietary transfer of vitamins from the cricket diet to the lizards via the crickets was quantified, as was UV irradiance. There was a statistically significant dietary enhancement of growth by both vitamins on males. UV-A irradiation significantly suppressed growth of females. Low vitamin A shortened life span and resulted in a number of gross and histological pathologies. Hepatocellular lipidosis, indicating a possible toxicosis, occurred with all diets and light treatments. Higher vitamin A resulted in mild soft-tissue mineralization, and high vitamin D shortened the life span of females. Low vitamin A drastically reduced reproduction in both sexes. The intermediate levels of dietary vitamins resulted in the best production of viable eggs by females. However, without high UV-B irradiation, all viable eggs died at term and contained different vitamin levels than hatching eggs from wild-caught females. Baseline levels of egg calcium are given for hatching eggs from wild-caught females. Modifications in current husbandry procedures are recommended. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.