2007-02-22 - Lyon, France. Orlando L, Pages M, Calvignac S, Hughes S, Hanni C. , University Lyon
Pigmy elephants inhabited the islands from the Mediterranean region during the Pleistocene period but became extinct in the course of the Holocene. Pigmy elephants could be most probably seen as members of the genus Elephas. Poulakakis et al (2006) have recently challenged this view by recovering a short mtDNA sequence from an 800 000 year old fossil of the Cretan pigmy elephant (Elephas creticus).
2007-02-22 - Stillwater, United States. Duer C, Carden M, Tomasi T. , Oklahoma State University
Previous studies have analyzed total testosterone concentrations in maternal serum for a reliable method of fetal gender determination in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The present study investigated the possibility that progesterone concentrations in maternal serum may reflect these testosterone patterns. Mean progesterone concentrations in maternal serum of elephants carrying male calves were greater than in those carrying female calves (P<0.01).
2007-01-28 - Davis, United States. Yon L, Kanchanapangka S, Chaiyabutr N, Stanczyk F, Meepan S, Lasley B. University of California
The phenomenon of musth is a very stressful event, both behaviorally and physiologically. An ACTH stimulation test was conducted in four adult Asian bull elephants to investigate the possibility that the classical hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is active during musth, resulting in an increase in adrenally produced steroids. The pattern of results suggests that the adrenal steroid increase which occurs during musth results from some mechanism other than the classical HPA axis.
2007-01-23 - Florida, United States. Kellogg ME, Burkett S, Dennis TR, Stone G, Gray BA, McGuire PM, Zori RT, Stanyon R.
Sirenia (manatees, dugongs and Stellars sea cow) have no evolutionary relationship with other marine mammals, despite similarities in adaptations and body shape. Recent phylogenomic results place Sirenia in Afrotheria and with elephants and rock hyraxes in Paenungulata. Sirenia and Hyracoidea are the two afrotherian orders as yet unstudied by comparative molecular cytogenetics. Here we report on the chromosome painting of the Florida manatee.
2007-01-20 - Front Royal, United States. Brown JL, Somerville M, Riddle HS, Keele M, Duer CK, Freeman EW. Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian Institution
Concentrations of serum testosterone, cortisol, thyroxine (free and total T4), triiodothyronine (free and total T3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured to assess adrenal and thyroid function as they relate to testicular activity and musth in captive elephants. In summary, a number of bulls did not exhibit musth despite being of adequate physical maturity.
2007-01-10 - Nairobi, Kenya. Wittemyer G, Ganswindt A, Hodges K. Save the Elephants
This study investigates the relationship between Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), an ecosystem surrogate measure of primary productivity, and fecal progestin concentrations among wild female elephants. Matched fecal samples and behavioral data on reproductive activity were collected from 37 focal individuals during the two-year study.
2006-12-20 - Vienna, Austria. Weissengruber GE, Egger GF, Hutchinson JR, Groenewald HB, Elsässer L, Famini D, Forstenpointner G. Veterinary University of Vienna
The cushions in the feet of African elephants were examined by means of standard anatomical and histological techniques, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The micromorphology of elephant feet cushions resembles that of digital cushions in cattle or of the foot pads in humans but not that of digital cushions in horses. Besides their important mechanical properties, foot cushions in elephants seem to be very sensitive structures.
2006-12-15 - Berlin, Germany. Hildebrandt T, Drews B, Gaeth AP, Goeritz F, Hermes R, Schmitt D, Gray C, Streich WJ, Short RV, Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
Hitherto, it has only been possible to estimate foetal ages from theoretical calculations based on foetal mass. The recent development of sophisticated ultrasound procedures for elephants has now made it possible to monitor the growth and development of foetuses of known gestational age conceived in captivity from natural matings or artificial insemination.
2006-12-00 - Jaipur, India. Department of Dravyaguna, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur
Ayurvĕda, the oldest existing medical science of India, which is not only responsible for the health of human beings but also, plays an important in Veterinary sciences. In India, history of traditional Veterinary medicine dates back to the era of Mahãbhãrata i.e.5000 B.C., recorded in the form of "Nakula Samhhitã". Hastãyurvĕda is a treatise on elephants, Palkãpya wrote this Samhitã. The present book is available as a complete Samhitã, edited by Pandit Shivadutta Sharma. Hastã...
2006-11-24 - Pretoria, South Africa. Shakespeare A, Strydom S., Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria
A practical method was developed to assess the extent of burns suffered by elephants caught in bush fires. In developing this method, the surface areas of the different body parts of juvenile, subadult and adult elephants were first determined using standard equations, and then expressed as a percentage of the total body surface area. When viewed from a distance, the burnt proportion of all body segments is estimated, converted to percentages of total body surface area, and then summed to determ...
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