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- Lindholm, Caroline, et al.
(author)
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Measuring ketones in the field : rapid and reliable measures of β-hydroxybutyrate in birds
- 2019
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In: Ibis. - : Wiley. - 0019-1019 .- 1474-919X. ; 161:1, s. 205-210
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ketone bodies such as β-hydroxybutyrate are important indicators of metabolic condition in birds and are linked to a suite of ecologically relevant factors including migratory decision-making, hunger level and ectoparasite load. Portable point-of-care (POC) devices designed to measure ketones in humans offer a cheap and easy solution to field physiologists in comparison with previous laboratory methods; however, their accuracy for use in birds has received scant attention. Here, we assessed the accuracy of a POC ketone meter (FreeStyle Precision Neo, Abbott, IL, USA) using samples from intermittently fed Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus. Although the device overestimated ketone levels in comparison with laboratory-derived values, random error was low and laboratory vs. device values correlated well, indicating that the Precision Neo is of sufficient accuracy for use in the field and is a pragmatic choice for avian physiologists.
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