Dystocia following prolonged retention of a dead fetus in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

Thitaram, Chatchote; Pongsopawijit, Pornsawan; Thongtip, Nikorn; Angkavanich, Taweepoke; Chansittivej, Sarun; Wongkalasin, Waroot; Somgird, Chalermchart; Suwankong, Niyada; Prachsilpchai, Worapat; Suchit, Kittiphat; Clausen, B.; Boonthong, Pinich; Nimtrakul, Kannika; Niponkit, Charawee; Siritepsongklod, Somchai; Roongsri, Ronnachit; Mahasavankul, Sittidet

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.04.020

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…One reason could be a growth and developmental disorder or dysfunction of the placental band, and could be that the fetus died earlier, remained within the uterus and was expelled at a later stage. A retained fetus has been reported in several cases in elephants [33,34]. Furthermore, it was shown previously that there is a delay in embryo resorption and progesterone decline after death of an embryo [35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The Secretory Pattern and Source of Immunoreactive Prolactin in Pregnant African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) Elephants

Yamamoto

Yuto

et al. 2012

J. Reprod. Dev.

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Abstract. The objective of the present study was to define the secretion of prolactin (PRL) in pregnant African and Asian elephants. Levels of immunoreactive (ir-) PRL in serum and placental homogenates were measured by a heterologous radioimmunoassay (RIA) based on an ovine and human RIA system, and the localization of ir-PRL in the placenta was detected by immunohistochemistry using anti-human PRL. Circulating ir-PRL clearly showed a biphasic pattern during pregnancy in African and Asian elephants. Serum levels of ir-PRL started to increase from the 4 -6th month of gestation and reached the first peak level around the 11-14th month. A second peak of circulating ir-PRL levels was observed around the 18-20th month of gestation followed by an abrupt decline after parturition. In contrast, in a case of abortion of an African elephant, the second peak of ir-PRL was not observed, and the levels remained low for about four months until parturition. The weight of the fetus delivered at the 17th month of gestation was 23.5 kg, which was quite small compared with normal fetuses in previous reports. Ir-PRL was detected in placental homogenates, and immunolocalization was observed in trophoblasts in both the African and Asian elephants, indicating that the placenta is the source of ir-PRL during pregnancy in elephants. The present results clearly demonstrated that circulating ir-PRL shows a biphasic pattern during normal pregnancy and that the placenta appears to be an important source of circulating ir-PRL during pregnancy in both African and Asian elephants. Key words: Female elephant, Fetal growth, Placenta, Pregnancy, Prolactin (J. Reprod. Dev. 58: [105][106][107][108][109][110][111] 2012) G estation and parturition are dramatic events for a female animal. The secretion of prolactin (PRL) shows remarkable changes during gestation and at parturition in many species [1][2][3][4][5]. The major source of PRL is the anterior pituitary gland, and its major functions during mammalian gestation are development of the mammary glands and stimulation of milk production. PRL secretion is stimulated by several environmental factors including pregnancy, suckling stimulation and stress [2,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12].Reproductive endocrinology including secretion of PRL has been studied in elephants previously [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. However, many mysteries, such as the source and the function of PRL during pregnancy, still remain. It is known that PRL is derived from the placenta in humans and rats [2,[23][24][25][26]. Placentation begins at the second to third month after ovulation in elephants [27]. The placenta ultimately forms a zonary shape, and its weight at term ranges from 8.3 to 22.2 kg in elephants [28].The objectives of the present study were to investigate the secretory pattern of immunoreactive (ir-) PRL in pregnant elephants. In addition, the immunoreactivity of ir-PRL was detected in the term placental tissues of both of African and Asian elephants by radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry. Materi...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The Secretory Pattern and Source of Immunoreactive Prolactin in Pregnant African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) Elephants

Yamamoto

Yuto

et al. 2012

J. Reprod. Dev.

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“…Progestins and luteinizing hormone (LH) were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as described previously [14,15]. The progesterone EIA [16] utilized a monoclonal progesterone antibody (1:10,000; Quidel clone #425), horseradish peroxidase-conjugated progesterone label (1:40,000; C. Munro, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA), and progesterone standards (catalog #P0130; Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO, USA).…”

Section: Blood Sampling and Hormone Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal effects on the endocrine pattern of semi-captive female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): Timing of the anovulatory luteinizing hormone surge determines the length of the estrous cycle

et al. 2008

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Better breeding strategies for captive Asian elephants in range countries are needed to increase populations; this requires a thorough understanding of their reproductive physiology and factors affecting ovarian activity. Weekly blood samples were collected for 3.9 years from 22 semi-captive female Asian elephants in Thai elephant camps to characterize LH and progestin patterns throughout the estrous cycle. The duration of the estrous cycle was 14.6+/-0.2 weeks (mean+/-S.E.M.; n=71), with follicular and luteal phases of 6.1+/-0.2 and 8.5+/-0.2 weeks, respectively. Season had no significant effect on the overall length of the estrous cycle. However, follicular and luteal phase lengths varied among seasons and were negatively correlated (r=-0.658; P<0.01). During the follicular phase, the interval between the decrease in progestin concentrations to baseline and the anovulatory LH (anLH) surge varied in duration (average 25.9+/-2.0 days, range 7-41, n=23), and was longer in the rainy season (33.4+/-1.8 days, n=10) than in both the winter (22.2+/-4.5 days, n=5; P<0.05) and summer (18.9+/-2.6 days, n=8; P<0.05). By contrast, the interval between the anLH and ovulatory LH (ovLH) surge was more consistent (19.0+/-0.1 days, range 18-20, n=14). Thus, seasonal variation in estrous cycle characteristics were mediated by endocrine events during the early follicular phase, specifically related to timing of the anLH surge. Overall reproductive hormone patterns in Thai camp elephants were not markedly different from those in western zoos. However, this study was the first to more closely examine how timing of the LH surges impacted estrous cycle length in Asian elephants. These findings, and the ability to monitor reproductive hormones in range countries (and potentially in the field), should improve breeding management of captive and semi-wild elephants.

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“…This resulted in the general recommendation that elephant skin should not be sutured following episiotomy but instead left to heal by second intention, after the deeper tissue layers have been closed. However, a recent report on a successful wound management described an episiotomy wound, sutured in two layers, which healed uneventfully by second intention (Thitaram et al. 2006).…”

Section: Dystociamentioning

confidence: 99%

Assisted Reproduction in Female Rhinoceros and Elephants – Current Status and Future Perspective

Hermes

Göritz

Streich

et al. 2007

Reprod Domestic Animals

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Over the last few decades, rhinoceroses and elephants became important icons in the saga of wildlife conservation. Recent surveys estimate the wild Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephant populations to be, at most, 50 250 and 637 600 respectively. For the five rhinoceros species, black (Diceros bicornis), white (Ceratotherium simum), Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis), Javan (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus Sumatrensis), the population estimates of 3610, 11 330, 2400, 60 and 300, respectively, are of even greater concern. Protected against habitat loss, poaching and left undisturbed, rhinoceros and elephants reproduce well in the wild. But small and decreasing populations make successful captive management of these taxa increasingly important. In captivity, however, most populations face possible 'extinction' because of historically poor reproductive performance. From the first descriptions of the reproductive anatomy and the oestrous cycle (Laws 1969; Kassam and Lasley 1981; Balke et al. 1988a,b; Plotka et al. 1988; Godfrey et al. 1991) to the present use of advanced assisted reproduction technologies, researchers have strive to understand the function and dysfunction of the reproductive biology of these charismatic species. This paper reviewed the current knowledge on rhinoceros and elephant reproduction biology, reproductive cycle, gestation, dystocia, reproductive pathology, oestrous induction and artificial insemination, sperm sexing, IVF and contraception, and how this knowledge is or might be used to aid species conservation for maximal reproductive efficiency and enhancement of genetic management.

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Dystocia following prolonged retention of a dead fetus in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

Cited by 17 publications

References 5 publications

The Secretory Pattern and Source of Immunoreactive Prolactin in Pregnant African (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>) and Asian (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) Elephants

The Secretory Pattern and Source of Immunoreactive Prolactin in Pregnant African (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>) and Asian (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) Elephants

Seasonal effects on the endocrine pattern of semi-captive female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): Timing of the anovulatory luteinizing hormone surge determines the length of the estrous cycle

Assisted Reproduction in Female Rhinoceros and Elephants – Current Status and Future Perspective

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