Effects of ultraviolet radiation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in captive Chinchillas (chinchilla laniger)
Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine
Anne E. Rivas, DVM, Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, MS, PhD, Dip. ECZM (Herpetology)
Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, MS, PhD, Dip. ECZM (Herpetology), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 1108W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802 USA.Tel.: 217-244-9386. mmitch at illinois.edu
DVM, Kenneth R. Welle, DVM, Dip. ABVP (Avian), Julia K. Whittington, DVM
Vitamin D is an important hormone in vertebrates, and most animals acquire this hormone through their diet and/or exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. To date, no study has determined how chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger) acquire vitamin D. The objective of this study was to determine whether exposure to UVB radiation had an effect on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in captive chinchillas.
Ten juvenile chinchillas were used for this scientific investigation. Baseline blood samples were collected from the animals while under isoflurane anesthesia to determine their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. The chinchillas were then randomly assigned to two treatment groups:
- Group A, 12 hours of UVB exposure per day; and
- Group B, no UVB exposure.
At the end of the study (Day 16), a second blood sample was collected from each animal while again under isoflurane anesthesia to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. Mean ± SD serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations differed significantly (p=0.048) between juvenile chinchillas
- provided supplemental UVB radiation (189.0 ± 102.7 nmol/L) and those
- not provided supplemental UVB radiation (87.8 ± 34.4 nmol/L).
This study found that exposing juvenile chinchillas to UVB radiation significantly increased their circulating serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Because vitamin D is an essential hormone in vertebrates, these findings suggest that the provision of UVB radiation to captive chinchillas may be important. Further research to elucidate the importance of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and UVB radiation in captive chinchillas is required.