Author(s): Anisha J Perumbilly, M Balagangatharathilagar, M Kalaivanan, Vishnurahav RB and M Madeena Begum

Abstract: Vitamin D, one of the fat-soluble vitamins, has a crucial role in mineral metabolism, immunomodulation and as an antioxidant. Clinical conditions of osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal diseases, and skin and ocular pathologies are the commonly encountered problems in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Most of these conditions are suspected to arise from deficiency of vitamin D. Still it’s metabolism in elephants is not clearly understood and a reference interval for it has not yet been established, limiting the prompt diagnosis and treatment of diseases in these animals. An immunoassay-based quantitative determination of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was carried out in blood samples received from apparently healthy elephants at Centralised Clinical Laboratory, VCC, VCRI, Tirunelveli. The samples submitted as a part of the general health checkup of animals from a period of September 2022 to August 2023 were selected for the study. The mean value of 25(OH)D estimated in ten adult female Asian elephants in captivity is 11.15±1.98 ng/mL. This information obtained from this preliminary study expands the knowledge about this analyte and helps in assessing and establishing the reference interval for vitamin D status in captive elephants.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i5Sf.1232