Steyrer Christine, Miller Michele, Hewlett Jennie, Buss Peter, Hooijberg Emma H
Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Front Vet Sci. 2021 Mar 1;8:599387. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.599387. eCollection 2021.
The African elephant () is listed as vulnerable, with wild populations threatened by habitat loss and poaching. Clinical pathology is used to detect and monitor disease and injury, however existing reference interval (RI) studies for this species have been performed with outdated analytical methods, small sample sizes or using only managed animals. The aim of this study was to generate hematology and clinical chemistry RIs, using samples from the free-ranging elephant population in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Hematology RIs were derived from EDTA whole blood samples automatically analyzed ( = 23); manual PCV measured from 48 samples; and differential cell count results ( = 51) were included. Clinical chemistry RIs were generated from the results of automated analyzers on stored serum samples ( = 50). Reference intervals were generated according to American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines with a strict exclusion of outliers. Hematology RIs were: PCV 34-49%, RBC 2.80-3.96 × 10/L, HGB 116-163 g/L, MCV 112-134 fL, MCH 35.5-45.2 pg, MCHC 314-364 g/L, PLT 182-386 × 10/L, WBC 7.5-15.2 × 10/L, segmented heterophils 1.5-4.0 × 10/L, band heterophils 0.0-0.2 × 10/L, total monocytes 3.6-7.6 × 10/L (means for "regular" were 35.2%, bilobed 8.6%, round 3.9% of total leukocytes), lymphocytes 1.1-5.5 × 10/L, eosinophils 0.0-0.9 × 10/L, basophils 0.0-0.1 × 10/L. Clinical chemistry RIs were: albumin 41-55 g/L, ALP 30-122 U/L, AST 9-34 U/L, calcium 2.56-3.02 mmol/L, CK 85-322 U/L, GGT 7-16 U/L, globulin 30-59 g/L, magnesium 1.15-1.70 mmol/L, phosphorus 1.28-2.31 mmol/L, total protein 77-109 g/L, urea 1.2-4.6 mmol/L. Reference intervals were narrower than those reported in other studies. These RI will be helpful in the future management of injured or diseased elephants in national parks and zoological settings.
非洲象（）被列为易危物种，其野生种群受到栖息地丧失和偷猎的威胁。临床病理学用于检测和监测疾病及损伤，然而，针对该物种现有的参考区间（RI）研究采用的是过时的分析方法、样本量较小或仅使用圈养动物。本研究的目的是利用南非克鲁格国家公园自由放养大象种群的样本，生成血液学和临床化学参考区间。血液学参考区间来自自动分析的乙二胺四乙酸全血样本（ = 23）；从48个样本中手动测量红细胞压积；并纳入了分类细胞计数结果（ = 51）。临床化学参考区间根据储存血清样本的自动分析仪结果生成（ = 50）。参考区间根据美国兽医临床病理学会指南生成，严格排除异常值。血液学参考区间为：红细胞压积34 - 49%，红细胞计数2.80 - 3.96×10⁶/L，血红蛋白116 - 163 g/L，平均红细胞体积112 - 134 fL，平均红细胞血红蛋白含量35.5 - 45.2 pg，平均红细胞血红蛋白浓度314 - 364 g/L，血小板计数182 - 386×10⁹/L，白细胞计数7.5 - 15.2×10⁹/L，分叶嗜中性粒细胞1.5 - 4.0×10⁹/L，杆状嗜中性粒细胞0.0 - 0.2×10⁹/L，总单核细胞3.6 - 7.6×10⁹/L（“规则”形态的单核细胞占总白细胞的比例分别为35.2%、双叶形8.6%、圆形3.9%），淋巴细胞1.1 - 5.5×10⁹/L，嗜酸性粒细胞0.0 - 0.9×10⁹/L，嗜碱性粒细胞0.0 - 0.1×10⁹/L。临床化学参考区间为：白蛋白41 - 55 g/L，碱性磷酸酶30 - 122 U/L，天冬氨酸氨基转移酶9 - 34 U/L，钙2.56 - 3.02 mmol/L，肌酸激酶85 - 322 U/L，γ-谷氨酰转移酶7 - 16 U/L，球蛋白30 - 59 g/L，镁1.15 - 1.70 mmol/L，磷1.28 - 2.31 mmol/L，总蛋白77 - 109 g/L，尿素1.2 - 4.6 mmol/L。参考区间比其他研究报告的更窄。这些参考区间将有助于未来在国家公园和动物园环境中对受伤或患病大象的管理。
