Evaluation of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in Callithrix penicillata primates living in their natural habitat in Brazil.

Background: Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone with important roles in the control of bone and mineral metabolism of vertebrates and in the maintenance of systemic homeostasis. This study aimed (i) to evaluate the serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone (PTH) and ionized calcium (iCa) of wild Callithrix penicillata (black-tufted marmosets) and (ii) to propose reference ranges for those analytes for free-living marmosets.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 15 wild animals and analyzed for 25(OH)D, PTH and iCa. Reference values were calculated following standard analytical criteria.

Results: The observed mean serum levels (±standard deviation) were 25(OH)D, 61.7 (±20.8) ng/ml; PTH, 275.2 (±34.1) pg/ml; iCai 4.0 (±0.6) mg/dl.

Conclusions: For free-living marmosets, the proposed physiological range for 25(OH)D is 20.1-103.3 ng/ml and for PTH is 207.0-343.3 pg/dl, with a confidence interval of 95%.