Reference intervals for Cu, Mg, and Zn in captive gyrfalcons and other falcon species in the United Arab Emirates

Falconry is a long-standing tradition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and in 2016, falconry was included by UNESCO in the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The health and wellness of falconry raptors is a priority for the local culture; plasma chemistry analysis plays an important role in monitoring, assessing, and managing diseases in avian patients. Imbalances of Cu, Mg, and Zn have been linked to several diseases in avian species; therefore, determining the reference intervals (RIs) of these minerals has important implications in the clinical management of falcons. We determined the RIs in plasma for Cu, Mg, and Zn in captive (falconry-managed) falcons according to the Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards Committee of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, and the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Blood chemistry analyses were carried out on 252 clinically healthy falcons examined at the Dubai Falcon Hospital in the UAE: 124 gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) and 128 falcons of other species. We observed no significant variation in RIs of Cu (1.5–7.0 µmol/L), Mg (0.49–0.78 mmol/L), or Zn (11.8–34.1 µmol/L) based on different species or sex.