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Comparative hematology: Studies on elephants, Elephas maximus
Camp. Biochem. Physiol., 1974,Vol. 49A, pp. 175 to 181.Pergamon Press. Printed in Great Britain
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY: STUDIES ELEPHANTS, ELEPHAS MAXIMUS” JESSICA Department
of
Medicine,
ON
H. LEWIS
University of Pittsburgh, 15213, U.S.A.
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
(Received 3OJuly 1973)
Abstract-l.
Elephant blood clots rapidly and the clots retract only slightly. The partial thromboplastin time is faster than human and most coagulation factors are much higher when assayed in systems designed for human plasma. 2. Thrombin time was long but antithrombin III was essentially absent. 3. Platelet counts were in the high-normal human range and aggregation with ADP and collagen was less marked than in human platelet rich plasma. 4. Red cells were large, discoid in shape, but fewer in number than in human blood. 5. Leukocytes were present in greater numbers than in human and showed some morphological differences. 6. Some biochemical and protein differences were also observed.
INTRODUCTION THE INDIAN elephant, Elephas maximus, is a huge mammal of the order Proboscidea which can be trained for transport and for performances in circuses. We have not found reports of coagulation and hemostatic studies nor of biochemical tests. These were performed in the course of a comprehensive, comparative study of blood of vertebrates. MATERIALS
AND
METHODS
The elephants, owned by Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, were examined on two occasions, one during the performing season in Pittsburgh and the other at winter quarters in Florida. We are indebted to Dr. J. Y. Henderson and Mr. Axe1 Gautier for aid in obtaining blood samples. All were adult (25-30 years old) females except No. 5 which was a 3-year-old female. Blood was obtained by needle and syringe from a vein or artery on the underside of the ear. Coagulation, hematological, protein and biochemical tests were performed by previously published (Lewis, 1961, 1971) or standard methods. RESULTS
General coagulation studies (Table
1)
Table 1 lists the results found in general tests of coagulation. The differences from human were not very striking. Elephant blood clotted rapidly but the clots * This Health.
study
was supported
by Grant
No.
175
HL-02254
from
the National
Institutes
of
2/0 13.0 65.4 IO.2 18.4 15.8 20.4 60 0 0 38.4 14.7 12.2 0 0 0
12.8 66.8 10.3 16.8 14.4 19.8 65 0 0 36.0 15.4 Il.9 0 0 0
-6
4
212 0
1;;
3
* Substrates were barium sulfate adsorbed plasmas. Prothrombin
Clotting time : Glass (min) 4* Silicone (min) 11 Clot retraction 212 Clot lysis 0 Serum prothrombin time (set) : Elephant substrate* 15.4 Human substrate* 62.4 Accelerated recakification times (set) : Agent : Simplastin@ 10.2 Human brain 17.2 Russel viper venom 16.8 PlateIin@ plus activator 21.4 Recalcification time (set) : 67 Lysis 0 Lysis in 1 y0 monochloroacetic acid 0 Thrombin time (bovine thrombin) (set) : 44.4 Anti-thrombin III : Immediate 15.7 6 min incubation 21 .o Ethanol gel 0 Cryoglobulin 0 Sia-water dilution test 0
2
5
10.8 11.5 -
10.8 15.7 22.6 -
15.2 88.4
58 12 212 0
6
-
11.1 11.8 -
15.8 25.8 100 0 0 26.4
11.4 -
14.1 58.6
8+
22 212 0
9
13.7 13.5 0 0 0
10.5 17.3 15.8 22.0 70 0 0 37.3
14.0 69.1
6i 16 212 0
Average
times without serum were > 120 sec.
14.6 12.5 0 0 0
10.1 16.8 16.0 22.2 60 0 0 41.2
13.4 73.2
1:: 212 0
EIephant
TABLE I-GENERAL COAGULATION TESTON SIX ELEPHANTS
11-15 35-55 0 0 0
11.5-13 18-20 15-17 35-50 120-170 0 0 14-16
16-19 > 20
6-12 20-59 414 0
Human range
r 4 t;
F I&
z
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY:STUDIESON ELEPHANTS,ELEPHAS
177
MAXIMUS
retracted poorly. Both elephant and human serum prothrombin times were faster with elephant adsorbed plasma than with human as substrate although neither elephant nor human adsorbed plasma clotted without added serum. The accelerated clotting times [also called prothrombin times (PT)] using Simplastin@, human brain or Russell viper venom were similar to human. The accelerated clotting time with Platelin@ plus activator (also called the partial thromboplastin time (PTT)) was much faster with elephant plasma than with human. The recalcification times were about a minute and the clots did not lyse. Clots were also stable in 1% monochloroacetic acid (indicating the presence of factor XIII). Thrombin times, using bovine thrombin, were longer than those found with human plasma, but rather surprisingly, progressive antithrombin III in heat defibrinated plasma was essentially absent. Not shown in the table was a thromboplastin generation test (TGT) on elephant No. 9. The elephant generating mixture, after 6 min incubation, clotted elephant substrate in 104 set and human in 13.2 sec. A similar human mixture clotted both human and elephant plasmas in 9.8 sec. Coagulationfactors
(Table 2)
Coagulation factors were measured in assay systems designed for the study of human blood. As shown in Table 2, elephant plasma consistently assayed in the “high to high normal” range. These high levels are reflected in the rapid PTT. TABLE ~-COAGULATION FACTORASSAYSON PLASMAFROM SIX ELEPHANTS Elephant Factor
1 (mg/lOO)
11-l
V VII X VIII IX XI XII x111*
% human standard
2
3
4
5
8
9
428 167 207 152 175 140 125 175 64
375 193 220 168 200 150 160 200 64
456 178 207 162 210 175 150 170 16
400 198 23.5 180 210 190 140 175 32
428 160 170 140 200 32
332 180 180 125 200 16
Human range
Average 403 179 203 133 177 199 164 144 180 37
150-450
%
50-l 50
4-16
* As reciprocal of plasma dilution which stabilizes a purified human fibrinogen clot in 1 o/o monochloroacetic acid.
Platelets and their functions (Table 3)
Platelet counts were in the high-human range and, on Wright’s stained smear, the platelets appeared very numerous, of rather variable size not different from those seen in human preparations. The platelet-glass adhesive index was below 7
178
JESSICAH. LEWIS TABLE 3-PLATELET COUNT ANDFUNCTION Elephant 3
2 Platelet count x lo3 mm* Platelet-glass adhesive index (%) Platelet-ADP Platelet-collagen (bovine)
546 30 100 100
491 15 55* 75
5
6
Average
535 975 24 35 SO* 45* 60 40
637 26 63 69
Human range 1 SO-450 >20 70-100 70-l 00
* Biphasic curve, showing aggregation followed by disaggregation.
the human range for elephant No. 3 only. When adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was added to platelet-rich plasma in a final concentration of 5.3 pg/ml, human controls showed rapid and complete aggregation. This was true of elephant No. 2 but not the other three. In these, biphasic curves (see Fig. 1) were formed indicating some disaggregation and additional ADP did not cause additional aggregation. Bovine collagen had a lesser effect on elephant than on human platelets. Another major action of human platelets is to cause clot retraction. This was much less evident in elephant blood.
--Elephant
22’ 2
ADP
t ADP 0
/ 0
33
60
90
I20
Seconds
FIG. 1. Platelet aggregation curves. Changes in optical density (Aggregometer, Chrono-Log Corp.) following the addition of 50 ~11 mM adenosine diphosphate to 400 ~1 platelet-rich plasma.
Erythrocyte
values (Table
4)
Table 4 shows that elephants have fewer but larger erythrocytes than do humans. These macrocytes contain plentiful hemoglobin. On stained smears, it is easy to appreciate the large size of the erythrocytes whose mean diameter measures 9.2 p (cf. human = 7.4 CL).
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY:STUDIESON ELEPHANTS,ELEPHAS MAXIMUS
179
TABLE 4-ERYTHROCYTE VALUESIN SIX ELEPHANTS Elephant 3 HCT (%) Hgb (g/100 ml) RBC x 106/mms MVC ($) MCH (cL$‘) MCHC (%)
5
6
7
8
9
Average
39 35 33 49 29 35 13.4 11.6 10.6 16.4 9.7 11.6 3.16 2.74 2.50 3.85 2.13 2.90 123 127 132 127 136 120 42.4 42.3 42.4 42.5 45.5 40.0 34.4 33.1 32.1 33.5 27.7 33.1
Human range 36-44 12-16 4-5.5 82-92 27-32 32-36
36 12.2 2.88 127 42.5 32.3
Leukocytes (Table 5) Table 5 shows that the total white cell count is slightly higher than that found in humans. The lymphocytes are numerous and many are binucleated. Of the polymorphonuclear cells a large proportion have large faintly eosinophilic staining granules but these are probably similar to human neutrophils. TABLE 5-0BsE~v.4~1oNs
ON LEUKOCYTES AND
DIFFERENTIAL
COUNT
Elephant 3
5
6
7
8
9
Average
Human range
WBC x 1 03/mm3 Eosx 102/mms
12.5 18
12.0 14
16.1 18
11.1 15
12.4
12.2
12.7 16
5~0-10~0 0.5-3.5
POlYS (%> Lymphs (%) Mono (%) Eos (%)
4 72 11 13
10 71 5 13
13 79 0 8
12 71 1 16
14 72 0 14
9 74 2 15
10 73 3 13
55-75 20-w 2-10 o-3
Cellular morphology
Figures 2-5 show photomicrographs and electron micrographs elephant blood cells and platelets. They are identified in the legends. Biochemical
of various
tests (Table 6)
Table 6 lists levels found in biochemical tests (SMA-21) on five elephants. The total protein is in the high human range, while albumin, by this method, is below the human range (see comments below). Uric acid, cholesterol, sodium and chloride are lower than human. Calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and LDH-L are somewhat above human standards.
180
JESSICAH. LEWIS TABLE ~-BIOCHEMICAL TESTSON ELEPHANTSERUM
Elephant
T. protein (g/100 ml) albumin (g/100 ml) Calcium (mg/lOO ml) Phosphorus (mg/lOO ml) Cholesterol (mg/lOO ml) Glucose (mg/lOO ml) Uric acid (mg/lOO ml) Creatinine (mg/lOO ml) T. bilirubin (mg/lOO ml) direct (mg/lOO ml) BUN (mg/lOO ml)
2
3
8.9 1.2 10.8 4.9 64 82 0.2 I.4 0.1 0.0 10
8.8 1.4 11.2 5.7 63 95 0.2 1.7 0.1 0.0 10
4
5
6
8.9 7.8 7.8 1.2 1.1 1.0 10.6 9.8 10.7 5.2 5.1 6.9 57 49 41 94 105 173 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.6 1.7 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 8 IO IO
Average
Human range
8.4 1.2 10.6 5.6 55 110 0.22 1.5 0.1 0.0 IO
6.0-8.0 3.5-5.0 8.5-10.5 2.5-M 1SO-300 65-110 2.5-8.0 0.7-I *4 0.1-1.4 o~l-O*s 1O-20
Chloride (m-equiv/l.) CO, (m-equiv/l.) Potassium (m-equiv/l.) Sodium (m-equiv/l.)
81 25 5 126
83 23 4.9 126
82 25 4.6 124
83 30 4.5 126
81 27 4.5 130
82 26 4.7 126
95-105 24-32 3.5-5.0 135-145
Alk. phosp. (i.u.) HBD (i.u.) CPK (i.u.) LDH-L (i.u.) SGOT (i.u.) SGPT (i.u.)
101 486 113 567 20 10
110 390 108 420 11 7
102 636 140 687 13 8
91 424 143 450 16 9
222 487 68 501 26 7
125 485 114 525 17 8
30-85 14-485 O-110 110-230 10-50 7-40
Plasma proteins electrophoresis (Table 7)
By electrophoresis the serum albumin appears within the normal human range. The only remarkable finding is a consistent split in the ,!I peak. TABLE ~-PROTEIN
ELECTROpH0RESIs (results in g/100 ml)
Elephant
Total protein Albumin 01~globulin aa globulin fl globulin* y globulin
2
3
4
5
6
9
Average
Human range
9.0 3.8 0.8 l-3 I.1 2.0
8.6 3.7 0.7 0.9 1.5 1.8
8.7 3.4 0.6 0.7 I.8 2.2
7.8 3.4 0.7 0.5 1.4 1.8
7.7 3.3 0.6 0.7 1.2 I.8
7.6 2.8 0.6 0.8 3.4
8.2 3.4 0.7 0.8 1.4 l-9
6.3-7.7 3.24.4 0.1-0.3 04-l *o 0.5-I .o 0.6-I .8
* All elephant samples show a split or double /3 peak.
FIG. 2. Peripheral. 3, binucleated
blood smear. lymphocyte;
1I Pnlymorphonuclear 4, smal1 lymphocyte.
neutrophil; Numerous
2, monocyte; platelets.
FIG. 3. Polymotphonuclear ncutrophiI containing neutropbific granuks, veT smaB gfycogen granules and a few vacuoles. Note platetet in I& lower corner. Ttne contained granules are larger than in human platelets. Three smail dense bodies and numerous glywgen granules can be seen ( x 12,400).
FIG. 4. Large FIG.
lymphocyte
5. Monocyte
containing mitochondria (x 15,166).
containing
and endoplasmic
mitochondria and two granules ( X 13,400).
lipid
reticulum
containing
macro-
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY: STUDIESON ELEPHANTS,ELEPHAS
MAXIMUS
181
Miscellaneous
Elephant fibrinogen did not cause clumping of a standard preparation of killed staphylococci (Newman D,C coagulase negative) used in the staphylococcal clumping test (Allington, 1967; Lewis & Wilson, 1973). COMMENTS
This communication presents various hematological values in elephants. The clotting factors are considerably higher and the partial thromboplastin time faster than human and, thus, similar to most other mammals. Only the porpoise (Lewis et al., 1969) and horse have partial thromboplastin times longer than human. Blood cell morphology by electron microscopy is remarkably similar to human. REFERENCES ALLINGTONM. J. (1967) Fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products and the clumping of staphylococci by serum. Br. J. Haematol. 13, 550-553. LEWIS J. H. (1961) Coagulation defects. J. Am. Med. Ass. 178, 1014-1020. LEWIS J. H. (1971) Hemostasis and hemorrhage. Scient. Clin. 1, l-66. LEWIS J. H., BAYERW. L. & SZETOI. L. F. (1969) Coagulation factor XII deficiency in the porpoise, Tursiops truncatus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 31, 667-670. LEWIS J. H. & WILSON J. H. (1973) Variations in abilities of animal fibrinogens to clump staphylococci. Thromb. Res. 3, 419-424. Key Word Index-Elephus comparative hematology.
maximus;
elephant
blood;
blood
clotting;
thrombin;
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY: STUDIES ELEPHANTS, ELEPHAS MAXIMUS” JESSICA Department
of
Medicine,
ON
H. LEWIS
University of Pittsburgh, 15213, U.S.A.
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
(Received 3OJuly 1973)
Abstract-l.
Elephant blood clots rapidly and the clots retract only slightly. The partial thromboplastin time is faster than human and most coagulation factors are much higher when assayed in systems designed for human plasma. 2. Thrombin time was long but antithrombin III was essentially absent. 3. Platelet counts were in the high-normal human range and aggregation with ADP and collagen was less marked than in human platelet rich plasma. 4. Red cells were large, discoid in shape, but fewer in number than in human blood. 5. Leukocytes were present in greater numbers than in human and showed some morphological differences. 6. Some biochemical and protein differences were also observed.
INTRODUCTION THE INDIAN elephant, Elephas maximus, is a huge mammal of the order Proboscidea which can be trained for transport and for performances in circuses. We have not found reports of coagulation and hemostatic studies nor of biochemical tests. These were performed in the course of a comprehensive, comparative study of blood of vertebrates. MATERIALS
AND
METHODS
The elephants, owned by Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, were examined on two occasions, one during the performing season in Pittsburgh and the other at winter quarters in Florida. We are indebted to Dr. J. Y. Henderson and Mr. Axe1 Gautier for aid in obtaining blood samples. All were adult (25-30 years old) females except No. 5 which was a 3-year-old female. Blood was obtained by needle and syringe from a vein or artery on the underside of the ear. Coagulation, hematological, protein and biochemical tests were performed by previously published (Lewis, 1961, 1971) or standard methods. RESULTS
General coagulation studies (Table
1)
Table 1 lists the results found in general tests of coagulation. The differences from human were not very striking. Elephant blood clotted rapidly but the clots * This Health.
study
was supported
by Grant
No.
175
HL-02254
from
the National
Institutes
of
2/0 13.0 65.4 IO.2 18.4 15.8 20.4 60 0 0 38.4 14.7 12.2 0 0 0
12.8 66.8 10.3 16.8 14.4 19.8 65 0 0 36.0 15.4 Il.9 0 0 0
-6
4
212 0
1;;
3
* Substrates were barium sulfate adsorbed plasmas. Prothrombin
Clotting time : Glass (min) 4* Silicone (min) 11 Clot retraction 212 Clot lysis 0 Serum prothrombin time (set) : Elephant substrate* 15.4 Human substrate* 62.4 Accelerated recakification times (set) : Agent : Simplastin@ 10.2 Human brain 17.2 Russel viper venom 16.8 PlateIin@ plus activator 21.4 Recalcification time (set) : 67 Lysis 0 Lysis in 1 y0 monochloroacetic acid 0 Thrombin time (bovine thrombin) (set) : 44.4 Anti-thrombin III : Immediate 15.7 6 min incubation 21 .o Ethanol gel 0 Cryoglobulin 0 Sia-water dilution test 0
2
5
10.8 11.5 -
10.8 15.7 22.6 -
15.2 88.4
58 12 212 0
6
-
11.1 11.8 -
15.8 25.8 100 0 0 26.4
11.4 -
14.1 58.6
8+
22 212 0
9
13.7 13.5 0 0 0
10.5 17.3 15.8 22.0 70 0 0 37.3
14.0 69.1
6i 16 212 0
Average
times without serum were > 120 sec.
14.6 12.5 0 0 0
10.1 16.8 16.0 22.2 60 0 0 41.2
13.4 73.2
1:: 212 0
EIephant
TABLE I-GENERAL COAGULATION TESTON SIX ELEPHANTS
11-15 35-55 0 0 0
11.5-13 18-20 15-17 35-50 120-170 0 0 14-16
16-19 > 20
6-12 20-59 414 0
Human range
r 4 t;
F I&
z
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY:STUDIESON ELEPHANTS,ELEPHAS
177
MAXIMUS
retracted poorly. Both elephant and human serum prothrombin times were faster with elephant adsorbed plasma than with human as substrate although neither elephant nor human adsorbed plasma clotted without added serum. The accelerated clotting times [also called prothrombin times (PT)] using Simplastin@, human brain or Russell viper venom were similar to human. The accelerated clotting time with Platelin@ plus activator (also called the partial thromboplastin time (PTT)) was much faster with elephant plasma than with human. The recalcification times were about a minute and the clots did not lyse. Clots were also stable in 1% monochloroacetic acid (indicating the presence of factor XIII). Thrombin times, using bovine thrombin, were longer than those found with human plasma, but rather surprisingly, progressive antithrombin III in heat defibrinated plasma was essentially absent. Not shown in the table was a thromboplastin generation test (TGT) on elephant No. 9. The elephant generating mixture, after 6 min incubation, clotted elephant substrate in 104 set and human in 13.2 sec. A similar human mixture clotted both human and elephant plasmas in 9.8 sec. Coagulationfactors
(Table 2)
Coagulation factors were measured in assay systems designed for the study of human blood. As shown in Table 2, elephant plasma consistently assayed in the “high to high normal” range. These high levels are reflected in the rapid PTT. TABLE ~-COAGULATION FACTORASSAYSON PLASMAFROM SIX ELEPHANTS Elephant Factor
1 (mg/lOO)
11-l
V VII X VIII IX XI XII x111*
% human standard
2
3
4
5
8
9
428 167 207 152 175 140 125 175 64
375 193 220 168 200 150 160 200 64
456 178 207 162 210 175 150 170 16
400 198 23.5 180 210 190 140 175 32
428 160 170 140 200 32
332 180 180 125 200 16
Human range
Average 403 179 203 133 177 199 164 144 180 37
150-450
%
50-l 50
4-16
* As reciprocal of plasma dilution which stabilizes a purified human fibrinogen clot in 1 o/o monochloroacetic acid.
Platelets and their functions (Table 3)
Platelet counts were in the high-human range and, on Wright’s stained smear, the platelets appeared very numerous, of rather variable size not different from those seen in human preparations. The platelet-glass adhesive index was below 7
178
JESSICAH. LEWIS TABLE 3-PLATELET COUNT ANDFUNCTION Elephant 3
2 Platelet count x lo3 mm* Platelet-glass adhesive index (%) Platelet-ADP Platelet-collagen (bovine)
546 30 100 100
491 15 55* 75
5
6
Average
535 975 24 35 SO* 45* 60 40
637 26 63 69
Human range 1 SO-450 >20 70-100 70-l 00
* Biphasic curve, showing aggregation followed by disaggregation.
the human range for elephant No. 3 only. When adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was added to platelet-rich plasma in a final concentration of 5.3 pg/ml, human controls showed rapid and complete aggregation. This was true of elephant No. 2 but not the other three. In these, biphasic curves (see Fig. 1) were formed indicating some disaggregation and additional ADP did not cause additional aggregation. Bovine collagen had a lesser effect on elephant than on human platelets. Another major action of human platelets is to cause clot retraction. This was much less evident in elephant blood.
--Elephant
22’ 2
ADP
t ADP 0
/ 0
33
60
90
I20
Seconds
FIG. 1. Platelet aggregation curves. Changes in optical density (Aggregometer, Chrono-Log Corp.) following the addition of 50 ~11 mM adenosine diphosphate to 400 ~1 platelet-rich plasma.
Erythrocyte
values (Table
4)
Table 4 shows that elephants have fewer but larger erythrocytes than do humans. These macrocytes contain plentiful hemoglobin. On stained smears, it is easy to appreciate the large size of the erythrocytes whose mean diameter measures 9.2 p (cf. human = 7.4 CL).
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY:STUDIESON ELEPHANTS,ELEPHAS MAXIMUS
179
TABLE 4-ERYTHROCYTE VALUESIN SIX ELEPHANTS Elephant 3 HCT (%) Hgb (g/100 ml) RBC x 106/mms MVC ($) MCH (cL$‘) MCHC (%)
5
6
7
8
9
Average
39 35 33 49 29 35 13.4 11.6 10.6 16.4 9.7 11.6 3.16 2.74 2.50 3.85 2.13 2.90 123 127 132 127 136 120 42.4 42.3 42.4 42.5 45.5 40.0 34.4 33.1 32.1 33.5 27.7 33.1
Human range 36-44 12-16 4-5.5 82-92 27-32 32-36
36 12.2 2.88 127 42.5 32.3
Leukocytes (Table 5) Table 5 shows that the total white cell count is slightly higher than that found in humans. The lymphocytes are numerous and many are binucleated. Of the polymorphonuclear cells a large proportion have large faintly eosinophilic staining granules but these are probably similar to human neutrophils. TABLE 5-0BsE~v.4~1oNs
ON LEUKOCYTES AND
DIFFERENTIAL
COUNT
Elephant 3
5
6
7
8
9
Average
Human range
WBC x 1 03/mm3 Eosx 102/mms
12.5 18
12.0 14
16.1 18
11.1 15
12.4
12.2
12.7 16
5~0-10~0 0.5-3.5
POlYS (%> Lymphs (%) Mono (%) Eos (%)
4 72 11 13
10 71 5 13
13 79 0 8
12 71 1 16
14 72 0 14
9 74 2 15
10 73 3 13
55-75 20-w 2-10 o-3
Cellular morphology
Figures 2-5 show photomicrographs and electron micrographs elephant blood cells and platelets. They are identified in the legends. Biochemical
of various
tests (Table 6)
Table 6 lists levels found in biochemical tests (SMA-21) on five elephants. The total protein is in the high human range, while albumin, by this method, is below the human range (see comments below). Uric acid, cholesterol, sodium and chloride are lower than human. Calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and LDH-L are somewhat above human standards.
180
JESSICAH. LEWIS TABLE ~-BIOCHEMICAL TESTSON ELEPHANTSERUM
Elephant
T. protein (g/100 ml) albumin (g/100 ml) Calcium (mg/lOO ml) Phosphorus (mg/lOO ml) Cholesterol (mg/lOO ml) Glucose (mg/lOO ml) Uric acid (mg/lOO ml) Creatinine (mg/lOO ml) T. bilirubin (mg/lOO ml) direct (mg/lOO ml) BUN (mg/lOO ml)
2
3
8.9 1.2 10.8 4.9 64 82 0.2 I.4 0.1 0.0 10
8.8 1.4 11.2 5.7 63 95 0.2 1.7 0.1 0.0 10
4
5
6
8.9 7.8 7.8 1.2 1.1 1.0 10.6 9.8 10.7 5.2 5.1 6.9 57 49 41 94 105 173 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.6 1.7 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 8 IO IO
Average
Human range
8.4 1.2 10.6 5.6 55 110 0.22 1.5 0.1 0.0 IO
6.0-8.0 3.5-5.0 8.5-10.5 2.5-M 1SO-300 65-110 2.5-8.0 0.7-I *4 0.1-1.4 o~l-O*s 1O-20
Chloride (m-equiv/l.) CO, (m-equiv/l.) Potassium (m-equiv/l.) Sodium (m-equiv/l.)
81 25 5 126
83 23 4.9 126
82 25 4.6 124
83 30 4.5 126
81 27 4.5 130
82 26 4.7 126
95-105 24-32 3.5-5.0 135-145
Alk. phosp. (i.u.) HBD (i.u.) CPK (i.u.) LDH-L (i.u.) SGOT (i.u.) SGPT (i.u.)
101 486 113 567 20 10
110 390 108 420 11 7
102 636 140 687 13 8
91 424 143 450 16 9
222 487 68 501 26 7
125 485 114 525 17 8
30-85 14-485 O-110 110-230 10-50 7-40
Plasma proteins electrophoresis (Table 7)
By electrophoresis the serum albumin appears within the normal human range. The only remarkable finding is a consistent split in the ,!I peak. TABLE ~-PROTEIN
ELECTROpH0RESIs (results in g/100 ml)
Elephant
Total protein Albumin 01~globulin aa globulin fl globulin* y globulin
2
3
4
5
6
9
Average
Human range
9.0 3.8 0.8 l-3 I.1 2.0
8.6 3.7 0.7 0.9 1.5 1.8
8.7 3.4 0.6 0.7 I.8 2.2
7.8 3.4 0.7 0.5 1.4 1.8
7.7 3.3 0.6 0.7 1.2 I.8
7.6 2.8 0.6 0.8 3.4
8.2 3.4 0.7 0.8 1.4 l-9
6.3-7.7 3.24.4 0.1-0.3 04-l *o 0.5-I .o 0.6-I .8
* All elephant samples show a split or double /3 peak.
FIG. 2. Peripheral. 3, binucleated
blood smear. lymphocyte;
1I Pnlymorphonuclear 4, smal1 lymphocyte.
neutrophil; Numerous
2, monocyte; platelets.
FIG. 3. Polymotphonuclear ncutrophiI containing neutropbific granuks, veT smaB gfycogen granules and a few vacuoles. Note platetet in I& lower corner. Ttne contained granules are larger than in human platelets. Three smail dense bodies and numerous glywgen granules can be seen ( x 12,400).
FIG. 4. Large FIG.
lymphocyte
5. Monocyte
containing mitochondria (x 15,166).
containing
and endoplasmic
mitochondria and two granules ( X 13,400).
lipid
reticulum
containing
macro-
COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGY: STUDIESON ELEPHANTS,ELEPHAS
MAXIMUS
181
Miscellaneous
Elephant fibrinogen did not cause clumping of a standard preparation of killed staphylococci (Newman D,C coagulase negative) used in the staphylococcal clumping test (Allington, 1967; Lewis & Wilson, 1973). COMMENTS
This communication presents various hematological values in elephants. The clotting factors are considerably higher and the partial thromboplastin time faster than human and, thus, similar to most other mammals. Only the porpoise (Lewis et al., 1969) and horse have partial thromboplastin times longer than human. Blood cell morphology by electron microscopy is remarkably similar to human. REFERENCES ALLINGTONM. J. (1967) Fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products and the clumping of staphylococci by serum. Br. J. Haematol. 13, 550-553. LEWIS J. H. (1961) Coagulation defects. J. Am. Med. Ass. 178, 1014-1020. LEWIS J. H. (1971) Hemostasis and hemorrhage. Scient. Clin. 1, l-66. LEWIS J. H., BAYERW. L. & SZETOI. L. F. (1969) Coagulation factor XII deficiency in the porpoise, Tursiops truncatus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 31, 667-670. LEWIS J. H. & WILSON J. H. (1973) Variations in abilities of animal fibrinogens to clump staphylococci. Thromb. Res. 3, 419-424. Key Word Index-Elephus comparative hematology.
maximus;
elephant
blood;
blood
clotting;
thrombin;