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Plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids in captive Asian ( Elephas maximus ) and African ( Loxodonta africana ) elephants
Author(s) -
Clauss M.,
Wang Y.,
Ghebremeskel K.,
Lendl C. E.,
Streich W. J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.153.2.54
Subject(s) - elephas , asian elephant , biology , african elephant , polyunsaturated fatty acid , hay , fatty acid , zoology , ecology , biochemistry
The fatty acid components of the plasma triglycerides and the phospholipid fractions of the red blood cells of a captive group of two African ( Loxodonta africana ) and four Asian ( Elephas maximus ) elephants were investigated. All the animals received the same diet of hay, fruits and vegetables, and concentrates. A comparison with data from free‐ranging African elephants or Asian work‐camp elephants showed that the captive elephants had lower proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PuFAs), and for several lipid fractions a higher n‐6:n‐3 ratio, than their counterparts in the wild or under the more natural, in terms of diet, work‐camp conditions. The difference in PUFA content was smaller in the African than in the Asian elephants. The captive Asian elephants tended to have lower levels of n‐3 and total unsaturated fatty acids in their red blood cells than the captive African elephants.