Scholarlink

<p>Tuberculosis (TB) is an emerging infectious disease in captive and wild elephants, with implications for animal health, conservation, public health, and related socio-economic activities. Despite Sri Lanka supporting large wild and culturally important captive elephant populations, national-level data on elephant TB remain limited. This study aimed to estimate TB seroprevalence in elephants and examine associations with hematological and demographic variables. A total of 40 clinically healthy elephants were screened, including privately owned animals (<i>n</i> = 5), elephants managed at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (<i>n</i> = 30), and orphaned wild elephants housed at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home (<i>n</i> = 5). Blood samples were analyzed using the DUAL PATH PLATFORM (DPP) VetTB assay to detect antibodies against the <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex. Age and sex data were recorded, and their relationships with serological status and hematological parameters were evaluated. The DPP VetTB assay identified a seropositive rate of 15.8% (6/38), with all seropositive elephants detected among captive elephants. Age group was significantly associated with seropositivity, whereas sex showed no significant association. Mean hematological parameters did not differ significantly between seropositive and seronegative elephants. However, significant age-related effects were observed for white blood cell counts and red cell distribution width, with a similar increasing trend noted for mean corpuscular volume. This study provides the first structured serological assessment of TB exposure in Sri Lankan elephants and underscores the role of the DPP VetTB assay as a screening tool, while emphasizing the need for confirmatory diagnostics and long-term surveillance to strengthen TB monitoring and management.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Seroprevalence of tuberculosis and hematological variations in captive and orphaned wild elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) in Sri Lanka

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月30日

查看全文
  • Saman K Piyadasa,
  • Buddhika Bandara,
  • Malaka K Abeywardana,
  • Susan K Mikota,
  • Samitha Lakmal,
  • Nelum Aberathne,
  • Ashoka Dangolla,
  • Harsha Ariyarathna,
  • Sagara N Kumara,
  • Champa N Ratnatunga,
  • Michito Shimozuru,
  • Jeewan Thapa,
  • Chie Nakajima,
  • Yasuhiko Suzuki,
  • Toshio Tsubota

摘要

Tuberculosis (TB) is an emerging infectious disease in captive and wild elephants, with implications for animal health, conservation, public health, and related socio-economic activities. Despite Sri Lanka supporting large wild and culturally important captive elephant populations, national-level data on elephant TB remain limited. This study aimed to estimate TB seroprevalence in elephants and examine associations with hematological and demographic variables. A total of 40 clinically healthy elephants were screened, including privately owned animals (n = 5), elephants managed at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (n = 30), and orphaned wild elephants housed at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home (n = 5). Blood samples were analyzed using the DUAL PATH PLATFORM (DPP) VetTB assay to detect antibodies against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Age and sex data were recorded, and their relationships with serological status and hematological parameters were evaluated. The DPP VetTB assay identified a seropositive rate of 15.8% (6/38), with all seropositive elephants detected among captive elephants. Age group was significantly associated with seropositivity, whereas sex showed no significant association. Mean hematological parameters did not differ significantly between seropositive and seronegative elephants. However, significant age-related effects were observed for white blood cell counts and red cell distribution width, with a similar increasing trend noted for mean corpuscular volume. This study provides the first structured serological assessment of TB exposure in Sri Lankan elephants and underscores the role of the DPP VetTB assay as a screening tool, while emphasizing the need for confirmatory diagnostics and long-term surveillance to strengthen TB monitoring and management.