Further Observations on the Physiology of the Elephant

Benedict, Fräncis G.; Lee, Robert C.

doi:10.2307/1374612

Cited by 32 publications

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“…Calcium oxalate and carbonate crystals have been described in the urine of healthy Asian elephants. 2,12 At SNZP, calcium oxalate crystals have been noted in all female Asian elephants, including the one involved in this case. However, during the initial stages of illness, these crystals were not noted.…”

Section: Brief Communicationmentioning

confidence: 77%

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Diagnosis and Treatment of Presumptive Pyelonephritis in an Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus)

Sánchez

Murray

Montali³

et al. 2004

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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A 37-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with anorexia, restlessness, and darkcolored urine. Urinalyses showed hematuria, leukocyturia, isosthenuria, proteinuria, granular casts, and no calcium oxalate crystals. Bloodwork revealed azotemia. Urine culture revealed a pure growth of Streptococcus zooepidemicus resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim but susceptible to cephalosporins. A presumptive diagnosis of pyelonephritis was made based on bloodwork, urinalysis, and urine culture. The animal was treated with intravenous ceftiofur, and intravenous and per rectum fluids were given for hydration. The elephant's attitude and appetite returned to normal, the abnormal blood parameters resolved, and urinary calcium oxalate crystals reappeared after treatment, supporting presumptive diagnosis. Follow-up ultrasonography revealed an abnormal outline of both kidneys with parenchymal hyperechogenicity and multiple uterine leiomyomas.

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Section: Brief Communicationmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…The hemogram revealed a mild leukopenia (6.70 normally found in elephant urine. 2 Urine was submitted for bacterial culture.…”

Section: Brief Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis and Treatment of Presumptive Pyelonephritis in an Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus)

Sánchez

Murray

Montali³

et al. 2004

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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“…The classification of behaviors was chosen after review of the literature (Benedict, 1936;Carrington, 1959 ;Laws & Parker , 1968 ;McKay, 1973;Sikes, 1971) and preliminary observations of subjects. Behaviors were chosen on the basis of their probable sensitivity to LSD.…”

Section: Behavioral Scoring Categoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

LSD-induced effects in elephants: Comparisons with musth behavior

Siegel

1984

Bull. Psychon. Soc.

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Musth is a condition observed in male Asiatic elephants and is characterized by aggression and temporal gland secretions. A classic and controversial 1962 study attempted to induce a musth syndrome in an elephant via treatment with LSD. Two elephants in the present study survived dosages of LSD (.003-.10 mglkg) and exhibited changes in the frequency and/or duration of several behaviors as scored according to a quantitative observational system. LSD increased aggression and inappropriate behaviors such as ataxia. Results are discussed in terms of musth and drug-induced perceptual-motor dysfunction.Musth is a condition commonly observed in male Asiatic elephants and is characterized by aggressiveness and discharging of the temporal glands. Studies on captive domesticated Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus) have demonstrated an initial stage wherein the temporal gland (a modified apocrine sweat gland) becomes enlarged and the animal displays increased irritability and decreased responsiveness to verbal commands. The second stage consists of temporal gland secretions (through a duct opening between the eye and ear), overt aggression, dribbling of urine, and elevated plasma testosterone levels (J ainudeen, Katongole, & Short , 1972;Jainudeen, McKay, & Eisenberg, 1972). The phenomenon clearly is related to chemical communication used in territorial marking as well as in sexual activity. In this sense, musth appears to be comparable to rutting behavior in other ungulates (Eisenberg, McKay, & Jainudeen, 1971) and may have adaptive significance for animals in the wild (Scheurmann & Jainudeen , 1972). Whereas musth has been observed only in Asiatic elephants, and only rarely in females (Bor, 1928), both male and female African elephants (Loxodonta a[ricana) exhibit temporal gland secretions concomitant with aggression. Indeed, when African elephants are disturbed or stressed, the glands show copious secretions of oleic acid and volatile oils, which may function both as alarm signals and scents for individual recognition (Adams, Garcia, & Foote , 1978;Buss, Rasmussen, & Smuts, 1976;Cmelik & Ley, 1978;Jainudeen, McKay, & Eisenberg, 1972).The behavior accompanying musth and temporal gland secretions may last from 2 weeks to 4 months and This research was supported in part by USPHS Grant MH-23880. The author thanks H. Johnson, S. Craig, M. Tennet, D. Dooley, P. Quinn, and 1. Kobrin for cooperation and assistance at Lion Country Safari. The behavioral profile was developed by M. Brodie. The author is affiliated with the Department

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“…Benedict (1936cited in Weir, 1972 measured energy, water and mineral budgets with a captive Asian elephant of 3.175 kg.…”

Section: Physiological Requirements For Sodium Balance and Its Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If Benedict's (1936) figures for urine are applied proportionately, another 120 g of sodium are lost (Weir, 1972).…”

Section: Physiological Requirements For Sodium Balance and Its Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Sodium as a Factor in the Behavior and Distribution of African Elephants

Wheelock¹

1980

Elephant

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Further Observations on the Physiology of the Elephant

Cited by 32 publications

References 0 publications

Diagnosis and Treatment of Presumptive Pyelonephritis in an Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus)

Diagnosis and Treatment of Presumptive Pyelonephritis in an Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus)

LSD-induced effects in elephants: Comparisons with musth behavior

Environmental Sodium as a Factor in the Behavior and Distribution of African Elephants

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