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July 12, 2004
Synopses of Scientific Research Projects Underway, July 2004
I. "Cryopreservation of African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Semen", Dr. Dennis Schmitt, DVM, Ph.D., Southwest Missouri State University (MO)
Preserving genetic diversity through cryopreservation of elephant semen
is important for the conservation of the species. Artificial
insemination in elephants is a viable technique that enables elephant
holding institutions to establish pregnancies without moving the female
to another institution. The development of successful semen freezing
protocols will enable researchers to collect, process, freeze and store
semen for successful insemination in elephants.
II. "Musth in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Potential for Chemical Signaling via Urine", Ms. Julie Hollister-Smith, Ph.D. Candidate, Duke University (NC)Aggressive
interactions between elephants are costly both in terms of energy and
the potential risk of serious injury or death. Selection should
therefore favor individuals who accurately assess opponents without
direct physical contact, through reliable signals of aggressive intent
or competitive ability. Musth in male elephants presents a unique
system in which to investigate evidence for such signals.
III. "Characterization of Endocrine Function in Male Elephants
Related to Season and Musth Status", Dr. Janine Brown, Ph.D.,
Conservation and Research Center (Smithsonian Institution/National Zoo)
Front Royal (VA); Ms. Malia Somerville, American University, Washington
(DC)
The purpose of this study is to characterize the effects of season and
musth status on testicular, pituitary, adrenal and thyroid endocrine
activity in Asian and African male elephants. If we knew more about the
biology of male elephants and could understand the etiology of musth,
then perhaps better strategies could be developed to manage them.
IV. "Development and Identity of Sexually Dimorphic Reproductive
Signals and Responses by African Elephants", Dr. Bruce Schulte, Ph.D.,
Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University (GA); Dr. L.E.L.
Rasmussen, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Oregon Health and Sciences University (OR); Dr. Tom Goodwin, Ph.D.,
Department of Chemistry, Hendrix College (AR)
This project, funded by the National Science Foundation for four years,
is designed to carry out behavioral assays using urine from female
African elephants. The researchers will observe the reactions of other
female and male African elephants to urine collected at various times
in the estrous cycle. This is a basic study of chemical communication
among African elephants under human care and in the wild. Chemical
analysis of urine samples will be done to search for possible bioactive
compounds (pheromones; chemical signals). Riddle's Elephant and
Wildlife Sanctuary will be a major domestic study site.
V. "Investigation of Behavioral and Socio-Environmental Factors
Associated with Reproductive Acyclicity in African Elephants", Ms.
Elizabeth Freeman, George Mason University (MD)
This study proposes to determine the role of elephant temperament and
social status in mediating reproductive acyclicity (i.e. "flatlining"
or no estrous cycle) in female African elephants.
VI. "Pharmacokinetics of Ibuprofen and Phenylbutazone Administered
to African and Asian Elephants", Dr. Ursula Bechert, DVM, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University (OR)
This study is designed to find the best dosage of two common drugs used
for pain management in elephants. It involves administration to an
elephant of a certain drug dosage, then analysis of blood serum samples
taken at various time intervals after administration.
VII. "Blood Chemistry and Hematology Analysis", Primedica Laboratories, Redfield (AR)This
is one of the most comprehensive and systematic studies ever undertaken
to measure a wide variety of elephant blood parameters over a long
period of time. This study will provide good baseline data on what
values are normal in elephant blood. A full panel of analyses and
complete blood counts are being run every other month on each of the
sanctuary elephants.
VIII. "Molecular Studies of an Integrated Mammalian Pheromone
System", Dr. L.E.L. Rasmussen, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Sciences University (OR)
Dr. Rasmussen is the world's premier expert on chemical communication
among elephants. She discovered the Asian elephant preovulatory
pheromone that signals to the male that the female is ovulating. This
study project being conducted at Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife
Sanctuary is on the cutting edge of technology, utilizing some of the
most sensitive techniques of molecular biology and biochemistry. The
results not only provide fundamental information on olfaction in
elephants and other mammals, but also has the potential to translate
into practical knowledge useful for the containment of wild elephants.
IX. "Elephant Red Blood Cell Evaluation", Dr. John Emerson, DVM,
and Marshall Franklin, Lampire Biological Laboratories, Pipersville (PA)
Lampire Biological Laboratories is using elephant blood to help
establish the upper limit of linearity of measuring mean cell volume
(MCV) of red blood cells (RBC) with hematology instruments. Though
existing hematology analyzers offer several analysis platforms, they
are assisting in the development of more precise, more accurate and
more reliable measures of RBC morphology. Since many diseases of blood
result in aberrant RBC size and morphology, an accurate diagnosis is
dependent upon true measures of RBC metrics. Their goal is to use their
analyzers more accurately to diagnose disease and provide data on human
and animal blood.
X. "Use of Digital Infrared Thermography to Assess Uniformity and
Health of the Elephant Foot", Dr. Scott Willard, Ph.D., Mississippi
State University (MS); Dr. Andy Kouba, Ph.D., Memphis Zoo (TN); Dr.
Dawn Zimmerman, DVM, MS, Memphis Zoo (TN)
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a non-invasive means (i.e.
non-contact) with which to monitor the health and physiological status
of animals through the detection of thermal symmetry or asymmetry of
body temperature surface gradients. As this imaging can be conducted
from a distance (several centimeters to several meters), this tool may
have great potential in captive environments for assessing animal
health. In the present application, we will evaluate the ability of
DITI to be used as a diagnostic tool for assessing uniformity and
pathologies of the elephant foot pad and nail region. In this regard,
DITI may represent a technology with wide-spread applications to the
captive management of elephants as part of routine foot care or as a
diagnostic tool as foot problems present themselves due to injury, wear
or disease.
XI. "Serum Survey for Exposure to Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV)
in Selected Zoo Species and Antibody Response in Selected Zoo Species
to a Mengo Virus Vaccination", Dr. Kay Backues, DVM, Tulsa Zoo (OK);
Dr. Armando Burgos, DVM, Tulsa Zoo and Oklahoma State University (OK);
Dr. Earl Blewett, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University (OK)
Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV) has a wide host range and has killed
numerous mammal species, including elephants. The aim of the research
is two-fold: an epidemiological survey for the prevalence of natural
exposure to EMCV in selected zoo animals, and to test the hypotheses
that the genetically engineered Mengo Virus (vMC0) used as a vaccine
will produce a significant titer increase to EMCV in susceptible
species.
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