Maine Moose hematologic and mineral values, 2014-2015

Selenium acts as a vital antioxidant, and is known to be deficient in Maine soils. While Maine moose numbers are high, young moose are susceptible to parasites; nutritional deficits may contribute to these losses. One hundred... [ view full abstract ]

Selenium acts as a vital antioxidant, and is known to be deficient in Maine soils. While Maine moose numbers are high, young moose are susceptible to parasites; nutritional deficits may contribute to these losses.
One hundred Maine adult and calf moose were captured and radio-collared during the winters of 2014 and 2015 via helicopter net-gunning or immobilization using a dart system. At capture, all animals were vigorous and were visually assessed as being generally healthy. Hematologic parameters were recorded. Animals were also sampled after death, monitored via radio tracking. Tissues and blood were collected at necropsy.
For the 100 moose captured during 2014-5, mean packed cell volume (PCV) was 46 ± 8.3; the total protein was 7.7 ± 0.8, and the total number of white blood cells was 8.7 ± 3.1 thousand per microliter. For moose at capture, and for those radio-collared moose from which blood could be collected after death (n=33), blood was also submitted for mineral analysis; liver was submitted in moose mortalities. Samples were analyzed at Michigan State University for cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. When compared with values established for cattle, very low selenium (mean serum SE 9.1 ± 3.3 ng/ml vs bovine normal mean of 70-100 ng/ml; mean tissue SE 0.05 ± 0.01 PPM versus a bovine mean of 0.2 PPM) along with marginal copper, cobalt and molybdenum, were noted.
Low selenium, in combination with parasite stressors, such as high concentrations of winter ticks and lungworms, may contribute to the relatively high mortality of Maine moose calves seen during 2014 and 2015.