Serum Chemistry Comparisons Between Captive and Free-ranging Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Abstract

Serum chemistry analyses were compared between captive and free-ranging giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in an attempt to better understand some of the medical issues seen with captive giraffes. Illnesses, including peracute mortality, energy malnutrition, pancreatic disease, urolithiasis, hoof disease, and severe intestinal parasitism, may be related to zoo nutrition and management issues. Serum samples were collected from 20 captive giraffes at 10 United States institutions. Thirteen of the captive animal samples were collected from animals trained for blood collection; seven were banked samples obtained from a previous serum collection. These samples were compared with serum samples collected from 24 free-ranging giraffes in South Africa. Differences between captive and free-ranging giraffes, males and females, and adults and subadults were analyzed by using a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial and Fisher's least significant difference for mean separation; when necessary variables were ranked and analyzed via analysis of variance. Potassium and bilirubin concentrations and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were different between captive and free-ranging giraffes, but all fell within normal bovid reference ranges. The average glucose concentration was significantly elevated in free-ranging giraffes (161 mg/dl) compared with captive giraffes (113 mg/dl). All giraffes in this study had glucose concentrations higher than bovine (42-75 mg/ dl) and caprine (48-76 mg/dl) reference ranges. Differences were also seen in lipase, chloride, and magnesium though these findings are likely not clinically significant. There were no differences detected between sexes. Adults had higher concentrations of potassium, total protein, globulins, and chloride and higher gamma glutamyltransferase activities, whereas subadults had higher concentrations of phosphorus. Within the captive group, nonimmobilized animals had higher concentrations of total protein and globulins. Captive giraffe diets need further investigation to determine if the differences seen in this study, especially glucose and bilirubin concentrations and ALT activities, may result in some health problems often seen in captive giraffes.

Etorphine-Azaperone Immobilisation for Translocation of Free-Ranging Masai Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis Tippelskirchi): A Pilot Study

“…Non-increased values of potassium recorded in this study supports that etorphine-azaperone combination kept the stress to a minimum, and, even though some excitement occurred, it had little consequences. Sodium in this study was lower than in other studies in free-ranging and captive giraffe [28], and the differences seen may be because of the small sample size and narrow range of values.…”

“…Hypoxaemia, defined as PaO 2 values lower than 66 mmHg, which is the expected PaO 2 at the capture site altitude, was present in three individuals only, whereas the calculated SaO2 from the BGA were higher than 90% in four individuals out of seven. In all the individuals, the electrolytes were within ranges previously reported in giraffes [28]. The mean alveolar-to-arterial oxygen tension gradient P(A-a)O 2 was 18.2 ± 5.4 mmHg, with values <20 mmHg in six individuals out of seven.…”

“…Sodium and chloride were within free-ranging giraffes' ranges, whereas potassium was similar to values reported in captive giraffes, but lower than in free-ranging captured giraffes [28]. Potassium elevations are due to high levels of capture stress since it results from muscle damage and is a major component in the pathogenesis of capture stress and myopathy [18].…”

The effects of increased hay‐to‐grain ratio on behavior, metabolic health measures, and fecal bacterial communities in four Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

“…This ratio is believed to provide amounts of phosphorus needed for metabolic needs without putting the animal at risk to develop rumen acidosis and uroliths (Miller et al, ). The giraffe also had a seemingly higher average Ca:P after the diet change (1.8:1) than a small subset of free ranging giraffe from Schmidt et al () at 1.1:1. The reported dietary phosphorus supplied to our giraffe both before and after the diet change falls within the recommended 0.35% to 0.5% dry matter basis range recommended by the Giraffe Nutrition Workshop (Schmidt & Barbiers, ).…”

Giraffe skin disease: Clinicopathologic characterization of cutaneous filariasis in the critically endangered Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis)

“…Adult giraffes in the study (≥6 years of age) were opportunistically rescued from snare traps with similar study specimens collected. Giraffes were identified in sequential order of capture as cases 1 through 64 during the following capture events: August 2017 (cases 1-10), April 2018 (cases 11-28), August 2018 (cases [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46], and October 2019 (cases 47-64). Study animals included 17 males and 47 females.…”