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CHEMICALS SUMMARY PAGE

Vitamin D3:

Summary Information
Classification Chemicals / Gross Nutrients, Vitamins, Fatty Acid & Enzymes / Type:

(This chemicals section is currently predominantly used in Wildpro to link different data types and demonstrate inter-relationships. It does not contain detailed information on the chemical itself.)
Alternative Names Cholecalciferol.
Notes
  • Fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin D3 is hydroxylated to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in the liver and to 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol in the kidney. Required for calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Stimulates calcium absorption from the intestine, influences osteoblast and osteoclast activity in bones, increases calcium resorption from renal tubules in response to metabolic requirements for calcium (B32.2.w23, B120).

Waterfowl:

  • Recommended levels of D3 for Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) are 1000 i.u./kg diet for starting and breeding ducks, 500 i.u./kg diet for growing ducks. (J4.157.w1, B13.46.w1, B16.19.w1, P3.1987.w2).
  • Important sources include eggs, fish-liver oil (D3), sun-ripened seeds and leaves (D2); D2 is less useful to birds (chickens) than D3 (B10.14.w19).
  • Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight converts a D2 precursor in skin secretions to vitamin D, which is then absorbed by the skin or ingested while preening (B10.14.w19).
  • Birds reared without access to sunlight require a higher level of vitamin D3 in the diet (B101).

Elephants:

  • Appropriate vitamin D3 supplementation to the diet. (B450.9.w9, P36.1994.w3)
  • A juvenile Loxodonta africana - African Elephant showing limb deviation was reported to improve following the supplementation of the diet with bone meal and vitamin D3 to the diet. (B450.9.w9)

Bears:

Great Apes

  • Adult Pan troglodytes - Chimpanzee: (W768.Jun2012.w1)
    • D3 20 IU/kg orally once daily. (W768.Jun2012.w1)
    • Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) 0.3 mg/kg orally once daily. (W768.Jun2012.w1)
Taxa Groups (hyperlinked if included as Wildpro volumes) containing host species which have been recorded as infected by this organism. BIRDS

MAMMALS
Associated Waterfowl Diseases Calcium / Phosphorus / Vitamin D Imbalance (Rickets, Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, Calcium Deficiency, Hypovitaminosis D, Vitamin D3 Deficiency, Calcium - Phosphorus Imbalance, Fibrous Osteodystrophy, Metabolic Bone Disease, Nutritional Bone Disease) Waterfowl Disease Summary Leg-bowing, hock enlargement, bone pliability, folding fractures other bone deformities and muscular atrophy in growing birds; thinning of bone cortices, folding fractures and paralysis in adults.
Waterfowl in which the associated disease has been recorded. "Geese" and "Ducklings" - species not specified.
Vitamin D Toxicity (Hypervitaminosis D) Waterfowl Disease Summary
  • Dystrophic calcification of kidney tubules and associated renal damage. May also be calcification in the aorta and other arteries.
  • Increased pimpling of egg shells may occur with moderate excess levels.

(B32.2.w23)
Waterfowl in which the associated disease has been recorded. Noted in "Poultry".
Angel Wing (Slipped wing, Flip wing, Dropped wing, Carpal deformity, Carpometacarpal deformity, Valgus carpal deformity, Heeled-over wing, Rotating wing, Tilt wing, Sword wing, Spear wing, Straw wing, Reversed wing, Aeroplane wing, Drooped wing, Dropped wing, Crooked wing) Waterfowl Disease Summary Deformity developing during growth, resulting in one or both wings sticking out from the body.
Waterfowl in which the associated disease has been recorded.
Mid-incubation Embryonic Death Waterfowl Disease Summary Death of the embryo in the middle period of incubation. 
Waterfowl in which the associated disease has been recorded. Species not specified.

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