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Chital and Muntjacs With Stress-Related Muscle Injury Had Higher Levels of the Muscle Enzyme CK

Chital standing in Ranthambore National Park, India
Research · Physiology

A field study in Madhya Pradesh, India examined biochemical signs of exertional myopathy in 26 free-ranging chital (Axis axis) and seven northern red muntjacs (Muntiacus vaginalis) undergoing treatment or rehabilitation. The source article uses the broader name Muntiacus muntjak for the muntjac.

Exertional, or capture, myopathy is a non-infectious metabolic disorder in which intense exertion and stress can damage skeletal muscle. Reduced oxygen supply and lactic acidosis can contribute to muscle-fibre injury and, in severe cases, necrosis. The animals in this study had experienced events such as trauma, vehicle collisions, dog attacks, capture, restraint or transport — all situations that can contribute to this stress response.

CK, LDH and AST did not show the same pattern

The researchers measured three serum enzymes associated with muscle injury: creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). CK was clearly higher in affected animals of both species. LDH was higher in affected chital, while the difference in northern red muntjacs was uncertain. AST was also higher in both species, but those differences were not clear enough to distinguish from variation in the samples.

The authors nevertheless consider all three enzymes useful when interpreted together with clinical history and signs, and highlight LDH as a particularly useful overall indicator of muscular damage in this field setting.

Handling can contribute to the physiological signal

The enzyme values are not a stand-alone diagnosis. CK, LDH and AST change on different time scales after muscle injury, and the timing of blood collection can influence the concentrations measured. The authors also note that restraint and treatment procedures can themselves add stress and contribute to muscle-enzyme changes.

This is especially relevant during wildlife rescue: pursuit, dog attacks, improper restraint and transport were among the circumstances associated with muscle damage in the animals studied. The authors therefore argue that biochemical monitoring can support clinical assessment while handling and transport should be kept as low-stress as possible to reduce the risk of exertional myopathy.

Sources and image credit

  1. Rokde, A., Swamy, M., Jadav, K., & Sharman, K. (2026). Serum Biochemical Alterations Associated with Exertional Myopathy in Free-ranging Spotted Deer (Axis axis) and Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak). Indian Journal of Animal Research. https://doi.org/10.18805/IJAR.B-5654Primary full-text article first published online 14 January 2026. The source uses Muntiacus muntjak; Wildlife Vagabond uses the current Northern Red Muntjac name and Muntiacus vaginalis. The study assessed 26 chital and seven muntjacs during rehabilitation and compared CK, LDH and AST in affected and unaffected animals.

Image: © Giles Laurent, gileslaurent.com / Wikimedia Commons — wild chital in Ranthambore National Park, India; representative image, not an animal from the study · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

About this content: This story was produced with AI assistance within an editorial workflow developed by Wildlife Vagabond. Editorial responsibility remains with Wildlife Vagabond.How AI is used

Physiology

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Species in this story

Chital Axis axis Explore species Northern Red Muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis Explore species

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