大象

<正>大象(Etephas maximus),是目前此界陆地上最人的哺乳动物,属于长鼻目,只有一科两属三种,即象科、非洲象属和象属,非洲象有两种:普通非洲象(也叫热带草原象或灌木象)和非洲森林象,象属只有亚洲象一种(也叫印度象)。大象是列入《国际濒危物种贸易公约》濒危物种之一的动物,也是我国一级野生保护动物。大象主要外部特征:柔韧而肌肉发达的长鼻和扇大的耳朵,象鼻具缠卷功能,显象自卫和取食的有力工具。象耳除了具有听觉功能外,还可以用来     

Neuroleptanalgesia in wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus maximus)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the suitability of etorphine with acepromazine for producing prolonged neuroleptanalgesia in wild Asian elephants. ANIMALS: Ten adult wild elephants (four males, six females), free-roaming in the jungles of the north-western province of Sri Lanka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten wild elephants were tranquilized for attachment of radio transmitter collars from September to November 1997, using Large-Animal Immobilon (C-Vet Veterinary Products, Leyland, UK), which is a combination of etorphine (2.45 mg mL(-1)) and acepromazine (10 mg mL(-1)). This was injected using projectile syringes fired from a Cap-Chur gun (Palmer Chemical Co. Inc., Atlanta, USA). A volume of 3.3 (2.5-4.5) mL Immobilon (6.12-11.02 mg of etorphine and 25-45 mg acepromazine) was injected intramuscularly after body mass estimation of individual elephants. RESULTS: The body condition of all darted elephants was good, and the mean (minimum-maximum) shoulder height was 225 (180-310) cm. The average approximate distance to elephants at firing was 26 (15-50) m. The average time to recumbency after injection was 18 (15-45) minutes. Nine out of 10 elephants remained in lateral recumbency (and did not require additional dosing) for a period of 42 (28-61) minutes. The respiratory and heart rates during anaesthesia were 7 (4-10) breaths and 52 (40-60) beats minute(-1), respectively. An equal volume (8.15-14.67 mg) of diprenorphine hydrochloride (Revivon, 3.26 mg mL(-1) diprenorphine; C-Veterinary Products, Leyland, UK) was given intravenously when the procedure was completed. Recovery (return to standing position) occurred in 6 (2-12) minutes after diprenorphine injection. Immediately afterwards, all elephants slowly retreated into the jungle without complications. Continuous radio tracking of the animals involved in this study indicated no post-operative mortality for several months after restraint. CONCLUSIONS/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Etorphine-acepromazine combinations can be used safely in healthy wild Asian elephants for periods of restraint lasting up to 1 hour.     

Interaction between chromaffin and sustentacular cells in adrenal medulla of viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus)

New evidence provides valuable information about the participation of sustentacular cells in chromaffin cell catecholamine secretion. In this process, calcium ions play an important role. It has been shown that there is an intense ionic traffic between both types of cells. Moreover, sustentacular cells take an active part in calcium metabolism, regulating levels of the ion and indirectly, the synthesis and release of catecholamines. This background information encouraged us to study the sustentacular population of Lagostomus adrenal medulla and its morphologic relationship with the chromaffin population. The animals were captured, transported to the animal facilities, anaesthetized and killed. The adrenal gland was processed by immunohistochemistry using antiserum against S-100 (subunit alpha and beta), a specific marker. Through the morphological and immunohistochemical study, it was found that there are sustentacular cells in deferent regions of adrenal medulla, mainly in the basal zone of chromaffin cells, which constitute the glomerular structure around blood capillaries. Cytoplasmic extentions of sustentacular cells penetrate into chromaffin cells and make contact with the basal membrane of the capillary endothelium. The relationship among chromaffin cells, capillaries and sustentacular cells suggests that they may intervene actively in the adrenal medulla metabolism.     

大菱鲆的饲料与投喂

大菱鲆（Scophthalmusmaximus）属于鲽形目鲆科，１９９２年引进我国，其生长迅速，耗氧量低，适合高密度养殖，经济价值高，是个很有前途的养殖品种。目前在山东省已经规模化养殖，但是对其营养和饲料方面的知识基本是空白，本文就国外的最新信息和我们的试验加以总结，以期对大菱鲆的养殖起到一定的推动作用。１营养需要大菱鲆对蛋白的需要量比大多数硬骨鱼类要高。在８０年代初期的研究中发现，给大菱鲆喂以粗蛋白含量从４０％～７０％的梯度饲料，达到最佳生长率和饲料效率是粗蛋白含量为６９．８％，脂肪含量１０％的饲料。后来的研究…     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in captive elephants (Elephaus maximus maximus) in Sri Lanka

Serum samples collected during August 2003-June 2004 from 45 privately owned captive and 8 elephants from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage were tested for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using the direct modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies were found in sera of 14 of 45 (32%) privately owned elephants with titers of 1:25 in three, 1:50 in three, 1:100 in three, 1:200 in three, and 1:400 in three elephants. The elephants from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage were seronegative. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in elephants in Sri Lanka.     

Epididymis of Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus): A Morphological Comparative Study in Relation to Sexual Maturity

The morphological variations and the androgen receptor (AR) expression were studied in viscacha epididymis in relation to sexual maturity. The animals were divided into immature, pre‐pubertal and adult, according to their corporal weight and testicular histology. The epididymides were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry for AR and morphometric analysis. In pre‐pubertal and adult animals, four well‐differentiated segments (initial, caput, corpus and cauda) were observed, while in immature animals, three segments were identified (initial‐caput segment, corpus and cauda). In each segment, the structural parameters and the relative cell distribution were different between the groups. The serum testosterone levels of pre‐pubertal and adults showed a very significant increase related to sexual maturity. The AR expression in epithelial and fibromuscular stromal cells was different between the groups. In conclusion, the present work demonstrates that the morphological characteristics of the viscacha epididymis vary while sexual maturity is reached, the development of initial and caput is subsequent to corpus and cauda development and the androgens might play an important role during this process.     

Bacterial and fungal pathogens isolated from corneal ulcerations in domesticated elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) in Sri Lanka

Infective corneal diseases are common among the domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka, causing morbidity including blindness leading to loss of revenue to their owners. From 140 elephants of different ages and both sexes, 36 animals (25.7%) had evidence of keratitis, corneal ulcers, corneal opacities, and some had foreign bodies in their eyes. Nine elephants (6.4%) had lesions in both eyes (6.41%). Cultures for both bacteria and fungi were obtained from 26 corneal ulcers, including the nine elephants with bilateral lesions. The other 10 animals could not be restrained for sample collection. Swabs from the normal corneas of an additional 20 elephants without signs of any ophthalmic diseases were also collected. Twenty-three of the 35 (65.71%) samples from affected corneas yielded bacterial pathogens, and 14 (40%) also had fungal isolates. None of them yielded a fungal isolate alone. The predominant bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus , beta hemolytic streptococci and coliforms. Fusarium , Cladosporium , Curvularia and Aspergillus species were the primary fungal isolates. No bacteria or filamentous fungi were isolated from the eyes with the normal corneas. Microbial identification including fungal isolations is suggested in the management of infective corneal diseases in elephants.     

亚洲象肝片吸虫病的免疫诊断和治疗

在国内首次用斑点免疫金渗滤法（Dot-immunogold filtration assay,DIGFA)对亚洲象的肝片吸虫病进行了免疫诊断，并采用10%肝蛭净进行治疗，获得成功。试验结果表明，斑点免疫金渗滤法诊断大象肝片吸虫病是一种敏感、快速、简便和实用的方法。     

Chronic endometritis in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

A 48-yr-old female Asian elephant with a history of pododermatitis developed recurrent hematuria beginning in 2002. Transrectal ultrasonography and endoscopic examination in 2004 identified the uterus as the source of hematuria and excluded hemorrhagic cystitis. Treatment with Desloreline implants, antibiotics, and homeopathic drugs led to an improved general condition of the elephant. In July 2005, the elephant was suddenly found dead. During necropsy, the severely enlarged uterus contained about 250 L of purulent fluid, and histopathology revealed ulcerative suppurative endometritis with high numbers of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus and Escherichia coli identified on aerobic culture. Additional findings at necropsy included: multifocal severe pododermatitis, uterine leiomyoma, and numerous large calcified areas of abdominal fat necrosis. Microbiologic culture of the pododermatitis lesion revealed the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus, Staphylococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., and Entercoccus sp.     

Subclinical hypocalcaemia in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

The hypothesis that hypocalcaemia may play a role in dystocia in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) was investigated. The objectives of the study were to measure the total calcium concentration in elephant plasma; assess the changes in parameters of calcium metabolism during a feeding trial; investigate a possible relationship between calcium metabolism and dystocia; and assess bone mineralisation in captive Asian elephants in vivo. The following parameters were measured: total and ionised calcium, inorganic phosphorous and magnesium, the fractional excretions of these minerals, intact parathyroid hormone, 25-OH-D(3) and 1,25-OH-D(3). Radiographs were taken from tail vertebrae for assessment of bone mineralisation. The mean (sd) heparinised plasma total calcium concentration was 2.7 (0.33) mmol/l (n=43) ranging from 0.84 to 3.08 mmol/l in 11 Asian elephants. There was no significant correlation between plasma total calcium concentration and age. Following feeding of a calcium rich ration to four captive Asian elephant cows, plasma total and ionised calcium peaked at 3.6 (0.24) mmol/l (range 3.4 to 3.9 mmol/l) and 1.25 (0.07) mmol/l (range 1.17 to 1.32 mmol/l), respectively. Plasma ionised calcium concentrations around parturition in four Asian elephant cows ranged from 0.37 to 1.1 mmol/l only. The present study indicates that captive Asian elephants might be hypocalcaemic, and that, in captive Asian elephants, the normal plasma concentration of total calcium should actually be around 3.6 mmol/l and normal plasma concentration of ionised calcium around 1.25 mmol/l. Given the fact that elephants absorb dietary calcium mainly from the intestine, it could be concluded that elephants should be fed calcium-rich diets at all times, and particularly around parturition. In addition, normal values for ionised calcium in captive Asian elephants should be reassessed.     

Conjunctival-corneal intraepithelial neoplasm in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

An adult female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with an enlarging nasal limbal mass of the left eye. The mass was excised and the surgical bed treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue showed the mass to be a superficial dysplastic ocular lesion, or conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasm. A 5-yr follow-up period has passed without complications or recurrence, suggesting that as is the case in humans (Homo sapiens), excision and cryotherapy is an effective treatment for these lesions in elephants. This is the first report of any ocular neoplasia in an elephant.     

Ultrastructure of Spermatozoa of the Asiatic Elephnat (Elephas maximus)

A scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of semen collected with the aid of an artificial vagina was carried out. The ultrastructural characteristics of Asiatic bull elephants is compared with that of other mammalian species.     

Sedation of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) with xylazine

Doses of 100 to 300 mg of a 10 per cent solution of xylazine satisfactorily sedated six elephants ranging from 150 to 255 cm shoulder height. At these dosages all animals were sedated in the standing position. The time taken to produce the initial signs of sedation ranged from 10 +/- 4 to 20 +/- 4 minutes and the effects lasted from 60 +/- 8 to 100 +/- 15 minutes. The time taken from injection to complete recovery ranged from 360 +/- 31 to 540 +/- 21 minutes. Recovery was uncomplicated. Repeated administration of as much as seven injections per animal at intervals of three to four days had no adverse effects. Disturbances during induction delayed the onset of action of the drug.     

The renal structure in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

The renal structure of a female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) was observed in both macroscopic and light microscopic levels. The left kidney was elongated-ellipse in shape, whereas the right appeared round. The left kidney was 31 cm in cranio-caudal length, 21 cm in medio-lateral length, and 2950 g in weight. The right kidney was 34 cm in cranio-caudal length, 22 cm in medio-lateral length, and 3250 g in weight. The external appearance showed the six separated renal lobes in both sides of the kidney. The four pairs of the lobes were fused in the deepest region in both sides of kidney, so we considered it as an incompletely lobated kidney in this species. We observed the proximal and distal urinary tubules in histological sections. Many renal corpuscles consisted of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule. Many mesangial cells and some podocytes were confirmed in each glomerulus; however, Bowman's capsules were larger than those in other mammalian species.