Evaluation of gastrointestinal biomarkers in jaguars (Panthera onca) housed in zoologic institutions from 1992 to 2025

Abstract

A previous study showed that the feline trypsin-immunoreactivity assay (fTLI) does not crossimmunoreact with cheetahs, and cobalamin and folate concentrations were well below the reference interval limits for domestic cats, but this has not been evaluated in jaguars.4 The objective of this study was to obtain gastrointestinal (GI) biomarker measurements in jaguars under managed care, compare the values to the domestic cat reference range, and determine their validity for future medical protocols. Serum samples from participating institutions were submitted to the GI Lab at Texas A&M University to measure serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, fTLI, and feline pancreatic lipase immunoassay. Any documented GI medical conditions were also recorded. Results (n = 104) were analyzed from 72 jaguars (28 males and 44 females; 1.25–23 yr old) and compared with reference intervals established in domestic cats.14–16 The majority of results for pancreatic-like immunoassay (n = 68) were within reference intervals for domestic cats (median 0.4 µg/L, range 0.3–4.3), but many samples tested for cobalamin (n = 63; mean 199 ng/L; range 149–290), fTLI (n = 62; median 7.4 µg/L; range 0.1–11.7) and folate concentrations (n = 54; median 5.5 µg/L; range 1.04–34.2) were below them. All jaguars with abnormal fTLI concentrations lacked clinical signs associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, such as poor hair coat, weight loss, or malodorous feces. This study demonstrated that domestic cat reference intervals for GI biomarkers such as cobalamin and fTLI are most likely not valid for jaguars as well.