Protocol for Neonatal Elephant Examinations

Captive elephant births are usually attended by elephant care staff, with veterinary staff available, allowing neonatal assessments to be performed shortly after birth (Box 69-1). Thorough examination of the calf should occur when the calf is first separated from the dam. This may be immediately after birth in the case of first-time dams, or during the first 24 to 48 hours with multiparous dams. Evaluation should include body weight and measurement of height, length, and girth, when possible, to develop correlates for growth. Average values, based primarily on data from Asian elephants, are as follows: birth weight, 105.5 kg (range, 53 to 150 kg); height, 88.9 cm (range, 66 to 107 cm). The initial evaluation should include a complete physical examination with special attention to periocular, oral, and anogenital regions, thoracic and abdominal auscultation, assessment of limb conformation, and evaluation of the umbilical stalk. Initial treatment of the umbilicus with tincture of iodine may minimize the risk of umbilical infections as well as accelerate the closure and drying of the stalk.

Blood should be collected for a complete blood cell count (CBC), biochemical profile, and assessment of passive transfer of immunoglobulins (e.g., protein electrophoresis, glutaraldehyde coagulation, or zinc sulfate turbidity). If blood is collected prior to nursing, results of passive transfer tests are expected to be negative, because the elephant’s placenta prevents the transfer of immunoglobulins in utero.³ Whole blood in EDTA and frozen samples from the placenta should be submitted to the National Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus Laboratory to screen for EEHV (see the latest protocols at www.aazv.org or www.aza.org under the Elephant TAG page).

Regular monitoring of the neonate is crucial for the early detection of problems. In most cases (92%), passage of meconium occurs within 7 hours of birth. Failure to pass meconium by 2 days of age should alert the veterinarian to a potential problem, such as congenital defects (e.g., atresia ani or coli), constipation, dehydration, gastrointestinal stasis, or insufficient milk intake.

Ongoing Assessment of Calf Health

This includes the following:

Nursing

Neonatal calves are often clumsy and may need assistance in learning to nurse. Prior to parturition a nulliparous dam should be trained to allow manipulation of the mammary glands. Approximately 74% of elephant calves attempt to nurse within 7 hours of delivery, but delays of up to 24 hours have been reported. If the calf has not nursed within the first 8 hours, elephant management and veterinary teams should review the calf’s condition and behavior. If no nursing has occurred by 12 to 24 hours of age, a decision should be made whether to supplement the calf. This decision depends on many factors including: observations on the calf’s vitality, strength of efforts to nurse, and assessment of the dam’s receptivity to the calf.

Supplementary feedings may consist of colostrum collected from the dam, milk from the dam, milk replacer, or plasma. The supplements may be offered from a bottle (commercially available bovine bottles and nipples) or via stomach tube. Calves that have nursed from the dam may be reluctant to accept bottle feeding. One 2-month-old calf was sedated and given milk replacer by stomach tube once daily for 10 days because the dam’s milk production had decreased as a result of low-grade metritis.

Failure of Passive Transfer

The zonary, endotheliochorial placenta of the elephant creates a barrier that prevents in utero transfer of immunoglobulins to the fetus.³ The neonate must ingest colostrum prior to closure of the gap junctions of the intestinal mucosa to absorb colostral immunoglobulins. The time frame for immunoglobulin absorption is undocumented in elephants but probably ranges from 12 to 36 hours based on extrapolation from other species. Elephant calves have been reported to consume between 2 and 10 liters of colostrum during early nursing bouts.

Oral immunoglobulin supplementation may be provided by milking colostrum from the dam or feeding banked elephant plasma or commercial equine hyperimmune plasma. Even if given after an animal can no longer absorb antibodies systemically, orally administered immunoglobulins provide local immunity in the intestines. Elephant cows may be milked by hand or with a human breast pump. Oxytocin (30 to 60 IU IM) may be administered prior to milking attempts to facilitate milk let down. Milk yield may vary widely, from 300 to 1000 mL/milking.

Intravenous plasma may be administered to calves that have failure of passive transfer (FPT) and will tolerate the procedure or are deemed weak and particularly at risk for infection. Plasma transfusion was used successfully as part of the treatment of a 10-day-old Asian elephant calf that was failing to thrive.¹³ Intravenous plasma should be administered at 40 to 80 mL/kg IV over 2 to 4 days. A single bolus of 10 to 20 mL/kg IV may be given in 30 to 60 minutes. Measurements of total protein and gamma globulin levels and tests for FPT should be repeated after the transfusion.

Training

Socialization of calves to humans should start shortly after birth so that the calf learns appropriate manners. Consistent interactions that do not allow undesirable behaviors toward humans to occur are crucial to prevent problems as the calf grows. Formal training is incorporated as the calf matures. It is not unreasonable to expect an elephant calf to present all parts of its body for examination, lie sternally and laterally on request, present its feet and limbs for radiographs, open its mouth for oral examinations, step on a platform scale for weighing, stand for urine collection, allow blood sample collection, and accept medications orally, rectally, and parenterally. Accounts of training and management of bull calves have been published.^3,19