Serum selenium concentration in farmed carnivorous fur animals (raccoon dog, mink, fox)

The aim of this study was to determine serum concentrations of selenium in farm-bred mink (Neovison vison), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and fox (Standard silver fox). Selenium concentration was determined using a spectrofluorimetric method. Material consisted of 55 serum samples from the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides, variety: Standard), mink Neovison vison (Brown Standard), fox (Standard silver fox), all aged 8-9 months. The animals were kept in individual cages in one of the farms in south-eastern Poland. The average serum selenium content in the examined carnivores (mink, raccoon dog, fox) was 0.35 mu g/ml, ranging from 0.135 to 0.625 mu g/ml. The highest mean selenium concentration of selenium was observed in mink (0.41 mu g/ml, ranging from 0.22 to 0.63 mu g/ml), while the lowest in foxes (0.21 mu g/ml, ranging from 0.14-0.38 mu g/ml). Fox and raccoon dog males had a higher Se concentration than females, while the opposite situation was observed in mink. There were no statistically significant differences between the concentration of selenium in serum of males and females. Monitoring Se supply sources and assessment of Se concentration in animals may be a basis for enabling prevention program to reduce the risk of many diseases related to the Se deficiency.