Serum selenium levelsSerum selenium levels

in alpacas on different farmsin alpacas on different farms

in Canterburyin Canterbury

measured during ’05 – ’08measured during ’05 – ’08

MMG KoningMMG Koning

Selwyn Rakaia Veterinary ServicesSelwyn Rakaia Veterinary Services

Selenium - introduction - introduction

Canterbury and other parts of New Zealand Canterbury and other parts of New Zealand are deficient in seleniumare deficient in selenium

Selenium supplementation is an accepted Selenium supplementation is an accepted method to deal with the deficiency in many method to deal with the deficiency in many speciesspecies

What are the selenium levels in CanterburyWhat are the selenium levels in Canterbury

What is the best way to supplement alpacas?What is the best way to supplement alpacas?

Selenium deficient areas in NZSelenium deficient areas in NZ

SeleniumSelenium

Serum seleniumSerum selenium

– representation of short-term representation of short-term selenium availabilityselenium availability

Samples analysed at GribblesSamples analysed at Gribbles

Measurement of serum Measurement of serum selenium inselenium in

Groups of healthy alpacas assumed to be Groups of healthy alpacas assumed to be representative for the respective herdsrepresentative for the respective herds

Alpacas showing signs that could be caused Alpacas showing signs that could be caused by selenium deficiencyby selenium deficiency

Follow-up cases post selenium TxFollow-up cases post selenium Tx

Selenium management in Selenium management in alpacaalpaca

SeleniumSupplementation

Nil Oral Parenteral

Short-acting Long-acting

Paddockapplication

Serum selenium levels on Canterbury farm C2 Serum selenium levels on Canterbury farm C2 before (March) and after (July) 4 months of before (March) and after (July) 4 months of oraloral

supplementation with sodium selenate in ‘06supplementation with sodium selenate in ‘06

0

1000

2000

3000

A B C

animal ID

se

rum

se

len

ium

(n

mo

l/L)

March '06

July '06

Serum selenium levels on Canterbury farm C3 Serum selenium levels on Canterbury farm C3 before (Nov) and after 4 months (Apr) and 11 before (Nov) and after 4 months (Apr) and 11 months (Oct) of months (Oct) of oraloral supplementation with supplementation with

sodium selenatesodium selenate

0

1000

2000

A B C

animal ID

seru

m s

elen

ium

(n

mo

l/L)

Nov '05Apr '06Oct '06

0

1000

2000

3000

A B C D Eanimal ID

seru

m S

elen

ium

(n

mo

l/L)

Feb

Apr

Serum selenium levels on Canterbury farm C1 Serum selenium levels on Canterbury farm C1 before (Feb) and 2 months after (Apr) a before (Feb) and 2 months after (Apr) a long-long-

acting selenium injection SQacting selenium injection SQ (p<0.001) (p<0.001)

Serum selenium levels in an alpaca before and Serum selenium levels in an alpaca before and at different times during yearly at different times during yearly

supplementation with 2 ml long-acting supplementation with 2 ml long-acting selenium SQselenium SQ

0

1000

2000

3000

BL 11 m postSe

3 m postSe

9 m postSe

12 m postSe

seru

m s

elen

ium

(n

mo

l/L)

Se-LA Se-LA

Serum selenium levels in an alpaca 2 months Serum selenium levels in an alpaca 2 months (May ’06) and 4 months (July ’06) after (May ’06) and 4 months (July ’06) after

parenteral short-acting selenium SQ (sodium parenteral short-acting selenium SQ (sodium selenate)selenate)

0

1000

2000

3000

May '06 Jul '06

seru

m s

elen

ium

(n

mo

l/L)

Serum selenium levels on alpaca farm C5 Serum selenium levels on alpaca farm C5 during different seasons with different during different seasons with different

supplementation of seleniumsupplementation of selenium

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

March '05 March '06 July '07 Jan '08

seru

m s

elen

ium

(nm

ol/L

)

pasture

Se prills

pasture

Se prills

12 m post Se LA

18 m post Se LA

Additional informationAdditional information

During the period ’05 – ’08 serum selenium has During the period ’05 – ’08 serum selenium has been determined for a 194 alpacasbeen determined for a 194 alpacas

The highest serum Se was 3470 nmol/LThe highest serum Se was 3470 nmol/L

The lowest serum Se was 60 nmol/LThe lowest serum Se was 60 nmol/L

ConclusionsConclusions

Oral selenium supplementation increases the Oral selenium supplementation increases the serum selenium levelsserum selenium levels

Serum Se increases slowlySerum Se increases slowly

Need to dose repeatedly and long-termNeed to dose repeatedly and long-term

Compliance is an issue, especially long-termCompliance is an issue, especially long-term

ConclusionsConclusions

Parenteral selenium supplementation Parenteral selenium supplementation increases serum Se rapidly (within 2 months)increases serum Se rapidly (within 2 months)

Long-acting Se maintains serum Se Long-acting Se maintains serum Se comfortably for 12 months (as claimed for comfortably for 12 months (as claimed for sheep)sheep)

Short-acting Se maintains adequate serum Short-acting Se maintains adequate serum Se levels for at least 2 months, but not 4 Se levels for at least 2 months, but not 4 months (claim is 3 months for other species)months (claim is 3 months for other species)

ConclusionsConclusions

Paddock application of Se prills results in Paddock application of Se prills results in variable levelsvariable levels