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Quantitative Assessment of the Percent Fat in Domestic Animal Bone Marrow

NCJ Number
234671
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 775-777
Author(s)
Kimberly A. Meyerholtz, B.S.; Christina R. Wilson, Ph.D.; Robert J. Everson, Ph.D.; Stephen B. Hooser, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Date Published
May 2011
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses an analytical method quantitating the percent fat in bone marrow from three domestic species: bovine, canine, and equine.
Abstract
Measurement of the amount of fat in femoral bone marrow can provide a quantitative assessment of the nutritional status of an individual animal. An analytical method is presented for quantitating the percent fat in bone marrow from three domestic species: bovine, canine, and equine. In this procedure, fat is extracted from bone marrow using pentane, and the percent fat recovered is determined gravimetrically. Based on analyses from adult animals (normal body condition scores), the average percentage of fat in the bone marrow was greater than 80 percent. In cases in which animals have been diagnosed as emaciated or exhibit serous atrophy of fat (body scores of 1 or 2), the femoral bone marrow fat was less than 20 percent. In domestic animals, bone marrow fat analysis can be a useful, quantitative measure that, when used in conjunction with all other data available, can support a diagnosis of starvation or malnutrition. (Published Abstract)