Dataset Information

Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

ABSTRACT: Investigation of globulin fractions by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is the first step towards evaluation of the proteome in the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). Furthermore, identification of changes in globulins in animals with poaching and other injuries can guide discovery of potentially useful biomarkers of inflammation. The aim of this study was to develop reference intervals for agarose gel SPE in healthy white rhinoceros and to compare these serum protein electrophoresis results to those from animals with tissue trauma. Reference intervals for total serum protein and agarose gel electrophoretic albumin and globulin fractions were generated using serum samples from 49 healthy free-ranging adult white rhinoceros. A standardised gating system together with identification of specific proteins by mass spectrometry aided in fraction identification. Six globulin fractions were identified: ?1a, ?1b, ?2, ?1, ?2 and ?. Reference intervals were generated for total serum protein (76-111 g/L), albumin (10-27 g/L) and globulin fractions (?1a: 1.6-3.2 g/L; ?1b: 1.7-3.6 g/L; ?2: 16.1-26.6 g/L; ?1: 6.6-18.2 g/L; ?2: 11.8-30.4 g/L; ?: 10.4-23.1 g/L; albumin: globulin ratio: 0.12-0.39). Results were compared to those from 30 animals with various degrees and chronicities of tissue trauma. Wounded animals had lower concentrations of total serum protein, albumin, total globulin, ? and ?1 globulins, lower percentages of ?2 and ?1 globulins, and higher percentages of ?2 and ? globulins. These protein changes are similar to those seen in human patients with wounds rather than classic acute phase or chronic inflammatory responses.

SUBMITTER: Hooijberg EH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6059428 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

Hooijberg Emma H EH Miller Michele M Cray Carolyn C Buss Peter P Steenkamp Gerhard G Goddard Amelia A

PloS one 20180725 7

Investigation of globulin fractions by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is the first step towards evaluation of the proteome in the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). Furthermore, identification of changes in globulins in animals with poaching and other injuries can guide discovery of potentially useful biomarkers of inflammation. The aim of this study was to develop reference intervals for agarose gel SPE in healthy white rhinoceros and to compare these serum protein elec ...[more]

PMID: 30044807

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Project description:All species in the extant Rhinocerotidae family are experiencing increased threats in the wild, making captive populations essential genetic reservoirs for species survival. However, managed species face distinct challenges in captivity, resulting in populations that are not self-sustaining. Captive southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) have low reproductive rates and presumed acyclicity is common among females. Although many females fail to ovulate, follicle growth may occur and ovulation can be hormonally induced. Female southern white rhino (n = 6), housed as a bachelorette group, were determined to be ovulatory (n = 1) or anovulatory (n = 5) by serial ultrasound and fecal progestagen analysis. When follicles reached pre-ovulatory size (~35 mm), females (n = 4) were induced to ovulate in 11 trials with a GnRH analog (4.5 mg, SucroMate™) via single intramuscular injection. Nine trials resulted in ovulation (81.8%), all between 36 and 48 hours post-treatment. Ovulations were confirmed by progestagen elevation above baseline coincident with visualization of a corpus luteum (CL). Luteal phases were characterized as short (<50 days) or long (≥50 days). Between short and long cycles, only the number of days of progestagen above baseline was significantly different (P < 0.05), while days with visible luteal structures was not significant (P = 0.11). Both cycle types were observed following both spontaneous and induced ovulations. Furthermore, we showed that longer cycle lengths do not necessarily indicate early pregnancy loss as none of the females were bred or inseminated during the study. While anovulation is common in the southern white rhino captive population, ovulation induction can be achieved efficiently and predictably for use in conjunction with artificial insemination or to facilitate natural breeding. This information will lead to more efficient use of assisted reproductive technologies to overcome reproductive challenges in this species and to generate genetically healthy captive populations as a hedge against extinction.

Project description:Gut microbiota are essential to nutrient metabolism and the maintenance of hindgut health. The characterization of faecal bacterial communities from healthy individuals is important for the establishment of baseline data that can be compared to periods of gut dysbiosis. Diet is a key determinant of the faecal microbial community structure and generation of volatile fatty acids, a main energy source for the host. While rhinoceroses are herbivores, black rhinoceroses are browsers and white rhinoceroses are grazers. The objective of our study was to characterize and compare diets, faecal bacterial communities, nutrients and metabolites between and amongst Southern white rhinoceroses and Southern black rhinoceroses (n = 3 rhinos/species) managed at Disney's Animal Kingdom® . Faecal bacterial communities were similar between individual white rhinos and dissimilar between species and individual black rhinos. Faecal butyrate and propionate molar proportions and concentrations were greater in black rhinos than white rhinos, whereas lactate was greater in white rhinos. The Shannon diversity, total operational taxonomic units, and relative abundance of Firmicutes were greater in white than black rhinos. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria in faeces from black rhinos was 3-fold greater than from white rhinos. One black rhino had a greater relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia (7.45 ± 1.31%) than all other individual rhinos (0.01-1.37%). White rhinoceroses demonstrated similar abundances of bacterial phyla and communities between one another and by individual, while black rhinoceroses were more dissimilar by individual. The dissimilarities between black rhinos were suspected to be due to total diet consumption variability, including browse diversity, and lack of direct contact. In contrast, the white rhinos commingled (i.e. nose-to-nose contact) and consumed similar amounts of hay, pellets and training items. These results suggest that species-specific diets and the individual contribute to differences in faecal bacterial communities, nutrients and metabolites between black and white rhinos housed at the same institution.

Project description:BackgroundManaged southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) serve as assurance populations for wild conspecifics threatened by poaching and other anthropocentric effects, though many managed populations experience subfertility and reproductive failure. Gut microbiome and host health are inextricably linked, and reproductive outcomes in managed southern white rhinoceros may be mediated in part by their diet and gut microbial diversity. Thus, understanding microbial dynamics within managed populations may help improve conservation efforts. We characterized the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in the managed population of female southern white rhinoceros (n = 8) at the North Carolina Zoo and investigated the effects of seasonality (summer vs. winter) and age classes (juveniles (n = 2; 0-2 years), subadults (n = 2; 3-7 years), and adults (n = 4; >7 years)) on microbial richness and community structure. Collection of a fecal sample was attempted for each individual once per month from July-September 2020 and January-March 2021 resulting in a total of 41 samples analyzed. Microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. Total operational taxonomic units (OTUs), alpha diversity (species richness, Shannon diversity), and beta diversity (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, linear discriminant analysis effect size) indices were examined, and differentially enriched taxa were identified.ResultsThere were differences (p < 0.05) in alpha and beta diversity indices across individuals, age groups, and sampling months. Subadult females had higher levels of Shannon diversity (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05) compared to adult females and harbored a community cluster distinct from both juveniles and adults. Samples collected during winter months (January-March 2021) possessed higher species richness and statistically distinct communities compared to summer months (July-September 2020) (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Reproductively active (n = 2) and currently nonreproductive adult females (n = 2) harbored differentially enriched taxa, with the gut microbiome of nonreproductive females significantly enriched (p = 0.001) in unclassified members of Mobiluncus, a genus which possesses species associated with poor reproductive outcomes in other animal species when identified in the cervicovaginal microbiome.ConclusionTogether, our results increase the understanding of age and season related microbial variation in southern white rhinoceros at the North Carolina Zoo and have identified a potential microbial biomarker for reproductive concern within managed female southern white rhinoceros.

Dataset Information

Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

Publications

Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

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