Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care
The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN, faces significant population declines and habitat degradation, necessitating robust health assessment tools for both managed and free-ranging populations. This study aimed to establish comprehensive hematology, se...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| author | Sanath Krishna Muliya Sanath Krishna Muliya Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani Lallianpuii Kawlni Anjan Kumar Ramakrishna Vaseem Mirza Mujib Ur Rahman Vinay Kumar Ramesha Huchhaiah Thammaiah Chekkera Kuttappa Souritra Sharma Kafil Hussain Kafil Hussain Vishnupriya Kolipakam Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ramesh Kumar Pandey Qamar Qureshi |
| author_facet | Sanath Krishna Muliya Sanath Krishna Muliya Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani Lallianpuii Kawlni Anjan Kumar Ramakrishna Vaseem Mirza Mujib Ur Rahman Vinay Kumar Ramesha Huchhaiah Thammaiah Chekkera Kuttappa Souritra Sharma Kafil Hussain Kafil Hussain Vishnupriya Kolipakam Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ramesh Kumar Pandey Qamar Qureshi |
| author_sort | Sanath Krishna Muliya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN, faces significant population declines and habitat degradation, necessitating robust health assessment tools for both managed and free-ranging populations. This study aimed to establish comprehensive hematology, serum biochemistry and arterial blood gas reference intervals (RIs) for Indian elephants, addressing gaps in existing studies, and following the guidelines of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP). Samples were collected from a well-defined elephant population under human care in southern India and analyzed on the same day. Phlebotomy was carried out in unsedated elephants in lateral recumbency to avoid sedation-related effects on measurands. A total of 92 elephants were sampled. Hematology RIs were derived from EDTA whole blood using automated methods, while serum biochemistry RIs were generated using semi-automated analyzers; arterial blood gas analysis was also performed using a portable field analyzer. The established hematology RIs were as follows: Hb 8.62–16.78 g/dL, RBC 1.77–4.9 × 1012/L, PCV 21.73–49.25%, MCV 112.49–131.39 fL, MCH 39.3–62.39 pg./cell, MCHC 33.40–41 g/dL, platelet count 171.57–947.1 × 103/μL, WBC 9912.5–29,475 cells/μL. Serum clinical chemistry RIs included: SGPT 4.01–20.34 U/L, ALP 124.89–556.68 U/L, TP 5.54–9.3 g/dL, albumin 2–2.91 g/dL, globulin 3.36–6.9 g/dL, GGT 2.38–23.18 U/L, CRT 0.65–2.06 mg/dL, BUN 4.12–24.32 mg/dL, and albumin/globulin ratio 0.3–0.8. Serum lipid profile RIs were: TC 26.96–69.39 mg/dL, triglycerides 12.55–52.47 mg/dL, HDL 9.02–39.38 mg/dL, LDL 4.63–49.07 mg/dL, and VLDL 2.52–10.5 mg/dL. Serum electrolyte RIs included: Ca 6.21–11.38 mg/dL, P 2.89–6.29 mg/dL, Na 133.94–174.77 mmol/L, K 1.83–7.81 mmol/L, and Cl 92.56–119.46 mmol/L. Arterial blood gas parameters were: pH 7.368–7.515, pCO₂ 28.5–47.9 mmHg, pO₂ 71.0–120.8 mmHg, cHCO₃− 23–30.1 mmol/L, sO₂ 94.4–99.6%, and tCO₂ 22.8–29.5 mmol/L. These RIs provide critical baseline data for health monitoring, enabling the detection of subclinical infections and evaluation of physiological, nutritional, and ecological welfare. By enhancing our understanding of the species’ physiological norms, this study supports improved veterinary care and conservation strategies, ultimately contributing to the long-term survival and welfare of Indian elephants in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cd93673e1cd4c03b164760b33ff3258 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-0cd93673e1cd4c03b164760b33ff32582025-08-20T03:27:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-07-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16022961602296Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human careSanath Krishna Muliya0Sanath Krishna Muliya1Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani2Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani3Lallianpuii Kawlni4Anjan Kumar Ramakrishna5Vaseem Mirza6Mujib Ur Rahman7Vinay Kumar8Ramesha Huchhaiah9Thammaiah Chekkera Kuttappa10Souritra Sharma11Kafil Hussain12Kafil Hussain13Vishnupriya Kolipakam14Ramesh Kumar Pandey15Ramesh Kumar Pandey16Ramesh Kumar Pandey17Qamar Qureshi18Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaNational Zoological Park & National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaForest Research Institute, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaBangalore Veterinary College, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Science University, Bangalore, IndiaBandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka Forest Department, Mysore, Karnataka, IndiaNagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka Forest Department, Forest Campus, Mysore, Karnataka, IndiaSakrebyle Elephant Camp, Karnataka Forest Department, Shivamogga, Karnataka, IndiaNagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka Forest Department, Forest Campus, Mysore, Karnataka, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaSher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaProject Elephant, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi, India0Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, IndiaWildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IndiaThe Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN, faces significant population declines and habitat degradation, necessitating robust health assessment tools for both managed and free-ranging populations. This study aimed to establish comprehensive hematology, serum biochemistry and arterial blood gas reference intervals (RIs) for Indian elephants, addressing gaps in existing studies, and following the guidelines of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP). Samples were collected from a well-defined elephant population under human care in southern India and analyzed on the same day. Phlebotomy was carried out in unsedated elephants in lateral recumbency to avoid sedation-related effects on measurands. A total of 92 elephants were sampled. Hematology RIs were derived from EDTA whole blood using automated methods, while serum biochemistry RIs were generated using semi-automated analyzers; arterial blood gas analysis was also performed using a portable field analyzer. The established hematology RIs were as follows: Hb 8.62–16.78 g/dL, RBC 1.77–4.9 × 1012/L, PCV 21.73–49.25%, MCV 112.49–131.39 fL, MCH 39.3–62.39 pg./cell, MCHC 33.40–41 g/dL, platelet count 171.57–947.1 × 103/μL, WBC 9912.5–29,475 cells/μL. Serum clinical chemistry RIs included: SGPT 4.01–20.34 U/L, ALP 124.89–556.68 U/L, TP 5.54–9.3 g/dL, albumin 2–2.91 g/dL, globulin 3.36–6.9 g/dL, GGT 2.38–23.18 U/L, CRT 0.65–2.06 mg/dL, BUN 4.12–24.32 mg/dL, and albumin/globulin ratio 0.3–0.8. Serum lipid profile RIs were: TC 26.96–69.39 mg/dL, triglycerides 12.55–52.47 mg/dL, HDL 9.02–39.38 mg/dL, LDL 4.63–49.07 mg/dL, and VLDL 2.52–10.5 mg/dL. Serum electrolyte RIs included: Ca 6.21–11.38 mg/dL, P 2.89–6.29 mg/dL, Na 133.94–174.77 mmol/L, K 1.83–7.81 mmol/L, and Cl 92.56–119.46 mmol/L. Arterial blood gas parameters were: pH 7.368–7.515, pCO₂ 28.5–47.9 mmHg, pO₂ 71.0–120.8 mmHg, cHCO₃− 23–30.1 mmol/L, sO₂ 94.4–99.6%, and tCO₂ 22.8–29.5 mmol/L. These RIs provide critical baseline data for health monitoring, enabling the detection of subclinical infections and evaluation of physiological, nutritional, and ecological welfare. By enhancing our understanding of the species’ physiological norms, this study supports improved veterinary care and conservation strategies, ultimately contributing to the long-term survival and welfare of Indian elephants in the region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1602296/fullAsian elephantsblood gaselectrolytesElephas maximus indicushematologyphysiological parameters |
| spellingShingle | Sanath Krishna Muliya Sanath Krishna Muliya Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani Lallianpuii Kawlni Anjan Kumar Ramakrishna Vaseem Mirza Mujib Ur Rahman Vinay Kumar Ramesha Huchhaiah Thammaiah Chekkera Kuttappa Souritra Sharma Kafil Hussain Kafil Hussain Vishnupriya Kolipakam Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ramesh Kumar Pandey Qamar Qureshi Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care Frontiers in Veterinary Science Asian elephants blood gas electrolytes Elephas maximus indicus hematology physiological parameters |
| title | Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care |
| title_full | Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care |
| title_fullStr | Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care |
| title_short | Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) under human care |
| title_sort | reference intervals for hematology serum biochemistry and blood gas parameters in indian elephants elephas maximus indicus under human care |
| topic | Asian elephants blood gas electrolytes Elephas maximus indicus hematology physiological parameters |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1602296/full |
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