Serum Glucose Levels in Captive Sri Lankan Elephants (Elephas maximus maximus)

Abstract

Serum glucose level of the Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), a subspecies of the Asian elephant. has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the random serum glucose level of captive adult Sri Lankan elephants to be used as reference base line data. The blood was collected from 16 individuals and serum glucose levels were determined using an enzymatic procedure (glucose hexokinase UV method) which is reliable, accurate and specific for glucose. The results show that the mean random glucose level of the Sri Lankan adult elephant was (mean±SEM) llS.02±7.3mg/dL (range: 64.2-186.1Smg/dL). The mean random serum glucose level of the males (l32.49±6.7mg/dL, range 88-186.2mg/dL) was significantly (Mann- Whitney U-test, P<O.OS)higher than the females (97.SS±6.7mg/dL,range: 64.2-128.7mg/dL). There was no significant difference amongst the random serum glucose leves of the three male phenotypes (Atha: 129.9Smg/dL, Aliya: 121.0±12.3mg/dL and Pussa: 148.S±18.9mg/dL) and two female phenotypes (Athinna: 9S.3±18.Smg/dL and Alidena: 98.8±4.8mg/dL). Further more, the random serum glucose level was not age related (using Spearman correlation r2= 0.033, P>O.OS).