The best combination of blood parameters (predictors) that can explain up to 40% of the variation found in alligator body condition for this region were cholesterol (positive related, nutrition group), phosphorus (positive), osmolality (negative), total protein (positive), albumin (negative, dehydration group), alpha 2, beta, and gamma globulins (negative; inflammation/infection group), and corticosterone (negative, stress group; AIC = -14.52; Table 3, Fig 3). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and infection.