title: Baseline levels of trace metals in blood of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
abstract: Whole blood from 33 healthy captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) was analyzed for 12 trace elements: aluminum, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, mercury, and lead for the purpose of estimating preliminary baseline population parameters for these minerals. Metals were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Baseline ranges for all animals and for all trace elements were comparable to normal concentrations reported in other species. This is the first report of normal trace element levels in the blood of captive elephants.
authors.affiliation: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, Polk City, Florida 33868, USA. ellen.wiedner@lacity.org
authors.forename: Ellen B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Wiedner
authors.forename: Noel Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaza
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D004606:Elephants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements