Successful artificial insemination in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) using chilled and frozen-thawed semen

Thongtip, Nikorn; Mahasawangkul, Sittidet; Thitaram, Chatchote; Pongsopavijitr, Pornsawan; Kornkaewrat, Kornchai; Pinyopummin, Anuchai; Angkawanish, Taweepoke; Jansittiwate, Saran; Rungsri, Ronnachit; Boonprasert, K.; Wongkalasin, Warut; Homkong, Pongpon; Dejchaisri, Suthathip; Wajjwalku, Worawit; Saikhun, Kulnasan

doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-75

Cited by 46 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The captive elephant population has also declined along with that of the wild elephants [22]. Thus, it is necessary to encourage breeding management and to maintain the pregnancy of captive Asian elephants in order to increase the population and maintain genetic diversity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Kajaysri

Nokkaew

2014

J. Vet. Med. Sci.

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The study was to find patterns of progestagen (progesterone and its metabolite) and glucocorticoid and their metabolite concentrations in serum and feces of pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The 5 female Asian domestic elephants were naturally mated until pregnancy. After that, blood and feces samples were collected monthly during pregnancy for progestagen, glucocorticoid and their metabolites analysis by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The results showed the serum progestagen concentration during gestation was 2.11 ± 0.60 to 18.44 ± 2.28 ng/ml. Overall, serum progestagen concentration rose from the 1st month to reach peak in the 11th month, after which it declined to its lowest level in the 22nd month of pregnancy. Fecal progestagen concentration varied from 1.18 ± 0.54 to 3.35 ± 0.45 µg/g during pregnancy. In general, fecal progestagen concentration increased from the 1st month to its highest level in the 12th month. After this, it declined reaching its lowest point in the 22nd month of pregnancy. Glucocorticoid hormones and their metabolite concentrations both in serum and feces fluctuated from low to medium throughout almost the entire pregnancy period and then rapidly increased around the last week before calving. Our study suggests that this profile of progestagen and glucocorticoid hormones and their metabolite concentration levels in serum and feces can be used to assess the pregnancy status of Asian elephants. If serum and fecal progestagen concentrations were found in very low levels and glucocorticoid and their metabolite concentrations were found in very high levels, it was indicated that the cow elephant would calve within 7 days.

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confidence: 99%

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Kajaysri

Nokkaew

2014

J. Vet. Med. Sci.

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“…These may, in part, explain why the absolute levels of post-thaw semen quality in this study were low, despite using general techniques that had yielded better mean results in a previous study (Thongtip et al, 2009). Differences in post-thaw semen quality between males and between ejaculates from a specific male have been reported for many species (Neild et al, 2003;Garde et al, 2008;Lopes et al, 2009;Dorado et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Although captive populations have been established and maintained, they are not currently considered sustainable due to a combination of factors, including the risk of inbreeding within the geographically isolated populations, low fertility, unbalanced sex ratios and high infant mortality. Artificial insemination (AI) techniques have been developed in an attempt to facilitate genetic management (Saragusty et al, 2009;Thongtip et al, 2009), and are relatively successful when using fresh or chilled semen (Schmitt et al, 2001). In addition, African elephant semen has been cryopreserved successfully, and this encouraged attempts to cryopreserve Asian elephant semen using the same extenders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of pre-freeze semen quality, extender and cryoprotectant on the post-thaw quality of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) semen

et al. 2013

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Semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination (AI) are potentially valuable methods for supporting the breeding management of endangered species like the Asian elephant. Cryopreservation of Asian elephant semen has however proven problematic with respect to maintenance of both adequate semen quality and fertility post-thaw. In this study, nine ejaculates from three adult bulls were used to compare the influence of extender (TEST versus INRA96 ® ) and penetrating cryoprotectants (3% glycerol, 5% glycerol and 4% methylformamide) on postthaw semen quality. We demonstrate that not only the freezing process, but also the quality of the semen before freezing, significantly influences the freezability of Asian elephant semen. Prefreeze motility, viability, semen volume, semen pH, sperm concentration and the incidence of sperm mid-piece and tail abnormalities all significantly (p<0.05) affected post-thaw semen quality. While extender and cryoprotectant did not significantly affect any of the above semen quality parameters post-thaw, the skim-milk based extender (INRA96 ® ) preserved DNA integrity better (p<0.05) than the egg yolk extender (TEST). Considerable between-ejaculate variation in all postthaw semen quality parameters was also noted. It is concluded that strict criteria for semen quality is essential for the selection of Asian elephant bull ejaculates suitable for cryopreservation; stricter initial selection should improve the mean post-thaw quality.

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“…Adv., 10 (12): 903-910, 2015 significantly different (p>0.05). In two cases, there were positive reactions between blood samples from breeding pairs that resulted in the abortion of two fetuses at 17 months of gestation without evidence of infectious disease or poor management (1 calf from Thongtip et al, 2009; 1 calf from unpublished data).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, passage of a heavy fetus through the vagina can cause the placenta to detach from the endometrium by severing the narrow maternal placental hilus, which then leads to intrauterine hemorrhage (Allen et al, 2003). Still births, especially late term and neonatal death are significant problems of captive elephants in western zoos (Saragusty et al, 2009) and have also been observed in Thailand (Thongtip et al, 2009;unpublished data). It is not known, if reactions to blood incompatibility between the fetus and elephant mother are causes of these problems, but given the non sustainability of most captive elephant populations, it is imperative to understand causes of poor reproductive success.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood Compatibility Testing in Asian Elephants Using an Indirect Antiglobulin Technique to Improve Captive Breeding Success

Bansiddhi¹,

Vongchan²,

Satityueny³

et al. 2015

Asian J. of Animal and Veterinary Advances

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Feto-maternal blood incompatibility causes hematological defects that can result in abortion and neonatal anemia and may lead to calf loss, including in elephants. The aim of this study was to examine blood compatibility in Asian elephants using the indirect antiglobulin technique, for use as a breeding management tool to reduce the risk of elephant fetal loss. Forty-four blood samples collected from 22 female and 22 male elephants were subjected to standard tube cross-matching tests and examined for macroscopic and microscopic agglutination reactions. The percentages of positive reactions across three female groups based on reproductive history (unmated, mated but not pregnant, parous) were 43.94, 53.03 and 45.80, respectively and did not differ (p>0.05). Moreover, all female sample showed positive reaction results at ambient and body temperatures. These results suggest blood incompatibility occurs in elephants. Thus, it could be beneficial to avoid mating between reactive blood groups.

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Successful artificial insemination in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) using chilled and frozen-thawed semen

Cited by 46 publications

References 21 publications

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Effect of pre-freeze semen quality, extender and cryoprotectant on the post-thaw quality of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) semen

Blood Compatibility Testing in Asian Elephants Using an Indirect Antiglobulin Technique to Improve Captive Breeding Success

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