Author(s): Sally A. Nofs, Robert L. Atmar, Wendy A. Keitel, Cathleen Hanlon, Jeffrey J. Stanton, Jie Tan, Joseph P. Flanagan, Lauren Howard and Paul D. Ling
Publication: Elsevier
Publication Date: 2013
Abstract: Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants exhibit characteristics of endotheliochorial placentation, which is common in carnivore species and is associated with modest maternal to fetal transplacental antibody transfer. However it remains unknown whether the bulk of passive immune transfer in elephants is achieved prenatally or postnatally through ingestion of colustrum, as has been documented for horses, a species whose medical knowledgebase is often extrapolated for elephants. To address this issue, we took advantage of the fact that many zoo elephants are immunized with tetanus toxoid and/or rabies vaccines as part of their routine health care, allowing a comparison of serum antibody levels against these antigens between dams and neonates. Serum samples were collected from 3 newborn Asian elephant calves at birth (before ingestion of colustrum); 2-4 days after birth; and 2-3 months of age. The findings indicate that the newborns had anti-tetanus toxoid and anti-rabies titers that were equivalent to or higher than the titers of their dams from birth to approximately 3 months of age, suggesting that the majority of maternal-to-fetal transfer is transplacental and higher than expected based on the architecture of the Asian elephant placenta.
