Relationship Between Reproductive and Bone Biomarkers and Osteoarthritis in Zoo Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta Africana) Elephants

Authors

Daniella E Chusyd
Janine L Brown
Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo
Stephanie L Dickinson
Virginia B Kraus
Jessica Siegal-Willott
Timothy M Griffin
Janet L Huebner
Katie L Edwards
David B Allison
Steven N Austad

Language

English

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Journal

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

DOI

10.1638/2021-0080

PMID

36640083

PMCID

PMC10150656

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-1-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is common in zoo Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants. This study investigated the relationship between confirmed or suspected OA with ovarian cyclicity, gonadotropins, progestagens, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), and collagen type I (CTX-I) in zoo elephants. In Asian elephants, odds of having confirmed or suspected OA decreased with cycling (OR = 0.22, P = 0.016; OR = 0.29, P = 0.020, respectively), however, not when adjusted for age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, P = 0.112; OR = 0.58, P = 0.369, respectively). In African elephants, none of the models between confirmed OA and cycling status were significant (P > 0.060), while odds of having suspected OA decreased with cycling (OR = 0.12, P = 0.001), even after adjusting for age (OR = 0.15, P =0.005). Progestagens (Asians: P > 0.096; Africans: P > 0.415), LH (Asians: P > 0.129; Africans: P > 0.359), and FSH (Asians: P > 0.738; Africans: P > 0.231) did not differ with confirmed or suspected OA status, unadjusted. CTX-I concentrations were not related to OA status (P > 0.655). This study concluded hormonal changes may not have a strong impact on OA, so additional investigation into other serologic biomarkers is warranted.

Keywords

Animals, Elephants, Progestins, Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Osteoarthritis, Animals, Zoo

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Chusyd, Daniella E; Brown, Janine L; Golzarri-Arroyo, Lilian; et al., "Relationship Between Reproductive and Bone Biomarkers and Osteoarthritis in Zoo Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta Africana) Elephants" (2023). Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications. 213.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/staff_pub/213