54 Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia Naturae, 3 (supplement): 54–59, 2018, ISSN 2543-8832 DOI: 10.24917/25438832.3supp.7 Terézia Pošiváková1*, Rudolf Hromada1, Jozef Švajlenka2, Ján Pošivák3 1Department of the environment, veterinary legislation and economy, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy of Kosice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic, *terezia.posivakova@uvlf.sk 2Department of Technology and Management, Technical Universities of Kosice, Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Košice, Slovak Republic 3Clinic for ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy of Kosice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic Assessing mouflon biochemical parameters depending on genders Introduction �e mou�on (Ovis aries musimon Pallas) is the only species of the genus Ovis L. living in the wild in Europe. �ey come from the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, following their likely migration from Asia Minor thousands of years ago (Bazer et al., 2012). �ey are not native to Slovakia. Instead, they were introduced to Slovakia from the island of Corsica (Ciuti et al., 2009). Mou�on’s habitat in our geographical conditions is predominantly temperate forests (Ciberej et al., 2010). Czech and Slovak mou�on are world leaders for value, trophies, and stature amongst hunters (Hell et al., 2008; Frojtek, 2012). Mou�on numbers are ever-growing, so it is important to extend our knowledge regarding their physiology. Biochemical markers are important factors in the body re�ecting the animal’s response to various stressors or negative e�ects of the environ- ment (Sherwood et al., 2013; Kimáková et al., 2018). Negative biochemical balance may disrupt the body, resulting in a variety of pathological changes, physical strain, or infectious disease (Lehocký, Kuric, 2007). Biochemical markers may be a sign of disease or pathological conditions within the body noted in research in di�erent �elds (Ciberej, 2013). Our study provides the assessing of mou�on biochemical parameters depending on genders, which can be used to manage the health status of these animals. Material and methods �e mou�on used in this research came from a game reserve in the eastern part of the Slovak Republic. Water intake from natural water sources was unrestricted and the A ssessing m ouflon biochem ical param eters depending on genders 55 animals were fed hay during winter. �e animals showed no signs of disease. Between 2015 and 2016, a total of 60 mou�ons (Ovis aries musimon Pallas), n = 30 males and n = 30 females, were analysed. Blood samples were taken by a veterinarian from the jugular vein from ��een males and ��een females. �e experimental group consisted of 4 to 5 year-old mou�ons. Samples were collected in winter using blood collection tubes and heparin tubes. �e following biochemical variables were analysed: albumin – ALB, alkaline phos- phatase – ALP, alanine aminotransferase – ALT, aspartate aminotransferase – AST and lactate dehydrogenase – LDH. Biochemical indicators were measured using an automatic analyser with a �exible system for consolidating routine examinations (Le- hocký, Kuric, 2007). �e biochemical variables were evaluated in relation to the sex of the animals in the experimental groups. �e obtained results were analysed via the statistical method of Mann-Whitney’s U test using STATISTICA 12 so�ware for comparing biochemical variables of males and females, depending on year and biochemical variables. Results and discussion �e results of the biochemical analysis are shown in tables 1 to 4. �e analysed bio- chemical parameters are grouped into tables according to statistical signi�cance in the context of the years being compared and depending on sex. For the sake of comparing various biochemical variables of males and females in 2015 and 2016, we used the Mann-Whitney’s U test, which is utilised in comparing two or more groups with a low number of measurements. By comparing 2015 and 2016, we recorded similar statistically signi�cant �ndings in the case of both sexes, i.e. in the case of ALB and AST parameters. �e aforementioned parameters were signi�cantly higher in 2015 compared to 2016. �e average values of these parameters in the monitored years were approximately the same in the case of both sexes except AST, where these values were markedly higher in males than in females. By comparing the individual sexes regardless of monitored years, we recorded sta- tistically signi�cant di�erences in the case of ALB, ALT, AST, and LDH parameters. All of these parameters were higher in males than in females. Lower values of ALB, ALT, and AST in females may have been caused by the fact that they were in their rut- ting period, during which there is a change in the values of intermediary metabolism in terms of enzyme reduction (Ciberej, 2014). Higher values of LDH in males may have been associated with stress during han- dling and subsequent increased muscle activity (Krauss, Nies, 2014). When handling the animals, the males resisted more than the females, which ultimately shows in the higher values of the aforementioned parameters. 56 Te ré zi a P oš iv ák ov á , R ud ol f H ro m ad a, J oz ef Š va jle nk a, J án P oš iv ák Ta b. 1 . S ig ni �c an t d i� er en ce s f or e ac h se le ct ed se ru m b io ch em ic al v ar ia bl e of m al es in th e co m pa re d ye ar s o f 2 01 5 an d 20 16 ; n = 1 5 M al e Ye ar s S 20 15 20 16 Va ri ab le M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. A LT [I U /L ] 31 .9 8 32 .6 3 10 .8 4 10 .1 2 48 .7 4 25 .9 9– 37 .9 6 21 .4 4 19 .4 0 11 .6 8 9. 70 48 .1 4 14 .9 7– 27 .9 0 ** A ST [I U /L ] 10 2. 75 79 .5 8 45 .9 9 59 .6 4 21 6. 00 77 .3 1– 12 8. 20 66 .1 1 54 .1 3 32 .7 5 32 .1 6 16 3. 41 47 .9 0– 84 .1 9 ** A LB [g /L ] 11 .7 2 11 .3 2 2. 02 9. 14 14 .9 9 10 .6 0– 12 .8 4 9. 66 9. 13 2. 04 6. 84 14 .2 2 8. 52 –1 0. 79 ** N ot e: ± S D – st an da rd d ev ia tio n, M in – m in im um , M ax – m ax im um , C on f. in t. – 95 % c on �d en ce in te rv al , * *p < 0 .0 1, A LT – a la ni ne a m in ot ra ns fe ra se , A ST – a sp ar ta te a m in ot ra ns fe ra se , A LB – a lb um in , S – si gn i� ca nc e Ta b. 2 . N on -s ig ni �c an t d i� er en ce s o f e ac h se le ct ed se ru m b io ch em ic al v ar ia bl e of m al es in c om pa re d ye ar s 2 01 5 an d 20 16 ; n = 1 5 M al e Ye ar s S 20 15 20 16 Va ri ab le M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. A LP [I U /L ] 37 .9 0 35 .3 3 13 .6 5 16 .7 60 .4 0 30 .3 6– 45 .4 5 26 .6 5 20 .3 6 16 .1 1 4. 79 49 .1 0 17 .6 6– 35 .5 1 N S LD H [I U /L ] 49 6. 80 45 6. 00 13 8. 00 32 5 72 0 42 0. 4– 57 3. 2 49 4. 7 41 9 18 8. 6 28 7 81 6 39 0. 3– 59 9. 2 N S N ot e: ± S D – st an da rd d ev ia tio n, M in – m in im um , M ax – m ax im um , C on f. in t. – 95 % c on �d en ce in te rv al , N S – no t s ig ni �c an t, A LP – a lk al in e ph os - ph at as e, L D H – la ct at e de hy dr og en as e, S – si gn i� ca nc e A ssessing m ouflon biochem ical param eters depending on genders 57 Ta b. 3 . S ig ni �c an t d i� er en ce s f or e ac h se le ct ed se ru m b io ch em ic al v ar ia bl e of fe m al es in th e co m pa re d ye ar s o f 2 01 5 an d 20 16 ; n = 1 5 Fe m al e Ye ar s S 20 15 20 16 Va ri ab le M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. A ST [I U /L ] 64 .3 7 59 .6 4 16 .0 5 41 .2 0 94 .6 0 55 .4 5– 73 .2 3 48 .2 0 43 .3 5 15 .8 1 26 .2 0 75 .8 1 39 .4 0– 56 .8 9 ** A LB [g /L ] 10 .8 7 9. 42 3. 09 7. 94 17 .0 0 9. 16 – 12 .5 7 8. 99 7. 77 3. 93 4. 73 17 .1 3 6. 81 – 11 .1 7 * N ot e: ± S D – st an da rd d ev ia tio n, M in – m in im um , M ax – m ax im um , C on f. in t. – 95 % c on �d en ce in te rv al , * p < 0. 05 , * *p < 0 .0 1, A ST – a sp ar ta te a m i - no tr an sf er as e, A LB – a lb um in , S – si gn i� ca nc e Ta b. 4 . N on -s ig ni �c an t d i� er en ce s f or e ac h se le ct ed se ru m b io ch em ic al v ar ia bl e of fe m al es in th e co m pa re d ye ar s o f 2 01 5 an d 20 16 ; n = 1 5 Fe m al e Ye ar s S 20 15 20 16 Va ri ab le M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. M ea n M ed ia n ± SD M in M ax C on f. in t. A LP [I U /L ] 27 .3 7 25 .1 5 7. 31 16 .7 43 .1 23 .2 9– 31 .3 8 25 .6 9 23 .3 5 13 .7 7 5. 99 43 .7 1 18 .0 2– 33 .2 3 N S A LT [I U /L ] 17 .9 0 18 .2 0 7. 49 7. 01 27 .3 13 .7 7– 22 .0 4 16 .1 7 15 .9 3 9. 16 5. 87 39 .3 4 11 .0 8– 21 .2 0 N S LD H [I U /L ] 38 0. 47 36 5 12 9. 80 22 1 61 0 30 8. 6– 45 2. 4 37 4. 8 30 3 17 0. 0 16 3 71 4 28 0. 7– 46 9. 0 N S N ot e: ± S D – st an da rd d ev ia tio n, M in – m in im um , M ax – m ax im um , C on f. in t. – 95 % c on �d en ce in te rv al , N S – no t s ig ni �c an t, A LP – a lk al in e ph os - ph at as e, A LT – a la ni ne a m in ot ra ns fe ra se , L D H – la ct at e de hy dr og en as e, S – si gn i� ca nc e Te ré zi a P oš iv ák ov á , R ud ol f H ro m ad a, J oz ef Š va jle nk a, J án P oš iv ák 58 Conclusion �e dynamics of the observed selected biochemical variables indicates their impor- tance when maintaining homeostasis in animals. In our research, we investigated the biochemical status of mou�ons of both sexes as the current physiological status for this type of wild game. Based on our monitoring of the biochemical status of mou�on, we recorded signi�cant di�erences between sexes in the case of ALB, ALT, AST, and LDH parameters. All of these parameters in our study were higher in males than in females. Acknowledgement �is work was supported from grant: KEGA 003 UVLF-4/2016. References Bazer, F.W., Spencer, T.E., �atcher, W.W. (2012). Growth and development of the ovine conceptus. Jour- nal of Animal Science, 90(1), 159–170. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4180 Ciuti, S., Pipia, A., Grignolio, S., Ghiandai, F., Apollonio, M. (2009). Space use, habitat selection and activity patterns of female Sardinian mou�on (Ovis orientalis musimon) during the lambing season. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 55(6), 589–595. DOI: 10.1007/s10344-009-0279-y Ciberej, J., Lazar, P., Halász, J. (2010). Game caring and diseases. Zvolen: Technical University, p. 108–222. Hell, P., Slamečka, J., Gašparík, J. (2008). Fallow deer and mou�on in Slovakia. Bratislava: PaPress. Frojtek, P. (2012). Mou�on from south Moravia, history, management and trophy. Modrý Kameň, p. 18–26. Sherwood, L., Klandorf, H., Yancey, P. (2013). Animal Physiology. From Genes to Organisms. Belmont, USA: CA Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. Kimáková, T., Kuzmová, L., Nevolná, Z., Bencko, V. (2018) Fish and �sh products as risk factors of mer- cury exposure. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine, 25(3), 488–493. DOI: 0.26444/ aaem/84934 Lehocký, M., Kuric, P. (2007). Management in huntings and breeding of wild game. Zvolen: National Forest Centre. Ciberej, J. (2013). Hunters zoology and biology. Zvolen: Technical University. Ciberej, J. (2014). Indents and teeth. Hunting and �shing, 66, 8–11. Krauss, J.G., Nies, D.H. (2014). Ecological Biochemistry, Environmental and Interspecies Interactions. USA: Wiley-Blackwell. Abstract �e aim of our study was to evaluate the selected biochemical parameters of mou�on depending on gender. �irty mou�ons of both sexes with the same approximate age in the winter season were used for research. Blood samples for biochemical analysis were taken from vena jugularis for determination of selected bi- ochemical parameter. Biochemical indicators were measured using the standard automatic analyser. �e results of statistical testing of selected biochemical parameters in the experimental group of animals con- �rmed di�erences between the genders and at the selected biochemical parameters. Key words: biochemical status, female, male, laboratory analyses, mou�on Received: [2018.04.08] Accepted: [2018.12.10] A ssessing m ouflon biochem ical param eters depending on genders 59 Ocena parametrów biochemicznych muflona w zależności od płci Streszczenie Celem badań była ocena wybranych parametrów biochemicznych u mu�ona, zależnych od płci. W sezonie zimowym, do badań wykorzystano trzydzieści mu�onów obu płci, o przybliżonym wieku. Próbki krwi do analizy biochemicznej pobrano z vena jugularis, w celu określenia wybranego parametru biochemicznego. Wskaźniki biochemiczne mierzono za pomocą standardowego automatycznego analizatora. Wyniki badań statystycznych wybranych parametrów biochemicznych w  grupie zwierząt doświadczalnych potwierdziły różnice między płciami i wybranymi parametrami biochemicznymi. Słowa kluczowe: status biochemiczny, samica, samiec, analizy laboratoryjne, mu�on Information on the authors Terézia Pošiváková She currently works as an educator in the �elds of ecology and environment. In her �eld of scienti�c work, she is focusing on monitoring the biochemical, haematological, and immunochemical conditions of animals, including interspecies breeding and the sex di�erences of animals. Her work focuses on pro- blem-solving animal hygiene due to the strategically necessary improvement of food security and pro- duction. Rudolf Hromada He is a specialist and expert in veterinary medicine. He has professional experience in the �elds of hy- giene, sanitation, and welfare in animal management and public health, ecology, issues of water and was- tewater contamination, and the composting of organic wastes. He currently works as an educator in the �elds of ecology and environment and animal hygiene. He is the author of several university textbooks. Jozef Švajlenka He is currently working as an educator in the �elds of technology and building management, ecology, and the environment. In his �eld of scienti�c work, he is focusing on the indoor and outdoor environmental quality of buildings, farm building quality, and the relation of functional and spatial processes with agri- cultural production systems, which refers to the quality of the health and wellbeing of those who occupy space within it. Ján Pošivák He is a specialist and expert in veterinary medicine. He is currently working as an educator in the �eld of veterinary medicine and animal reproduction. He applies his teaching and research knowledge in education and scienti�c practice. He has extensive experience in the �eld of animal physiology, animal reproduction, and assisted reproductive farming, and in wild animals. He deals with the study of bioche- mical parameters in relation to the reproduction of animals.