Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants (Elephasmaximus) by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and TheirMetabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay(EIA)

[摘要] References(25)Cited-By(1)The study was to find patterns of progestagen (progesterone and its metabolite)and glucocorticoid and their metabolite concentrations in serum and feces of pregnantAsian elephants (Elephas maximus). The 5 female Asian domestic elephantswere naturally mated until pregnancy. After that, blood and feces samples were collectedmonthly during pregnancy for progestagen, glucocorticoid and their metabolites analysis byenzyme immunoassay (EIA). The results showed the serum progestagen concentration duringgestation was 2.11 ± 0.60 to 18.44 ± 2.28 ng/ml.Overall, serum progestagen concentration rose from the 1st month to reach peak in the 11thmonth, after which it declined to its lowest level in the 22nd month of pregnancy. Fecalprogestagen concentration varied from 1.18 ± 0.54 to 3.35 ± 0.45 µg/gduring pregnancy. In general, fecal progestagen concentration increased from the 1st monthto its highest level in the 12th month. After this, it declined reaching its lowest pointin the 22nd month of pregnancy. Glucocorticoid hormones and their metaboliteconcentrations both in serum and feces fluctuated from low to medium throughout almost theentire pregnancy period and then rapidly increased around the last week before calving.Our study suggests that this profile of progestagen and glucocorticoid hormones and theirmetabolite concentration levels in serum and feces can be used to assess the pregnancystatus of Asian elephants. If serum and fecal progestagen concentrations were found invery low levels and glucocorticoid and their metabolite concentrations were found in veryhigh levels, it was indicated that the cow elephant would calve within 7 days.

[学科分类] 兽医学

[关键词] Asian elephant;enzyme immunoassay;glucocorticoid;progestagen;serum and feces