Evaluation of selenium status and its distribution in organs of free living foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from an Se deficient area

The objective of the study was to determine selenium status and its distribution in the organs of free living foxes from selenium deficient areas of north-western Poland. Samples of organs harvested from 40 foxes shot during the 2008-2009 hunting seasons served as experimental material. Selenium concentration in the organs was determined spectrofluorometrically. Selenium distribution in tissues depends largely on its dietary content. Our study indicated that concentrations of selenium in the examined organs followed the order: kidney>liver>spleen>lung>heart and kidneys were the organ with the highest retention of this element. Mean selenium concentration in fox kidneys was 0.60 ± 0.15 μg/g wet weight. Several times less selenium on average was found in the liver (0.27 ± 0.09 μg/g w.w.), lungs (0.17 ± 0.06 μg/g w.w.), spleen (0.19 ± 0.06 μg/g w.w.) and heart (0.13 ± 0.05 μg/g w.w.). All the animals studied were deficient in selenium.