Previous announcements
December 2005Goals and objectives: The goal of this project is to evaluate serologic techniques ((Rapid Test (now known as Elephant TB STAT-PAK®), MAPIA, ELISA, Immunoblot)) as screening tools that will accurately and quickly identify tuberculosis-infected elephants. The specific objective is to compare results of culture (the technique currently recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture) with the four experimental serological assays.
One-fourth of the estimated 60,000 Asian elephants remaining on earth are captive. The vast majority of these 15,000 elephants live in Asia where they are used for work, ceremonies, and eco-tourism. To date, captive elephants in Asian range countries have not been systematically evaluated for TB. The close proximity to humans; the high prevalence of TB among humans in range countries; and the intermingling of captive and free-ranging elephants in some areas make TB a serious threat to this endangered species.
Since 1994, 12 percent of Asian elephants within the U.S. have been diagnosed with TB. In Nepal, researchers will sample over 100 elephants. The elephant handlers will also be tested.
Serological tests would reduce the time to diagnosis, decrease animal and human exposure, and provide a cost effective means to increase surveillance of TB. These improvements will lead to fewer deaths from TB (by decreased environmental contamination and exposure of the susceptible population). Importantly, these technologies have potential application to a broad range of endangered species susceptible to TB for which suitable diagnostic techniques are currently lacking.
Elephant Care International is supporting this project financially and with personnel. Dr. Susan Mikota, our co-founder and the Director of Veterinary Programs & Research, will spend the month of January in Nepal, giving oversight and assistance to veterinary students from Nepal and the U.S. in sample collection. Update: Drs. Mikota (ECI) and Miller (Disney's Animal Kingdom) have been awarded a $4,500 grant to partially fund this Nepal TB Project.
December 2005Goals and objectives: The goal of this project is to evaluate serologic techniques ((Rapid Test (now known as Elephant TB STAT-PAK®), MAPIA, ELISA, Immunoblot)) as screening tools that will accurately and quickly identify tuberculosis-infected elephants. The specific objective is to compare results of culture (the technique currently recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture) with the four experimental serological assays.
One-fourth of the estimated 60,000 Asian elephants remaining on earth are captive. The vast majority of these 15,000 elephants live in Asia where they are used for work, ceremonies, and eco-tourism. To date, captive elephants in Asian range countries have not been systematically evaluated for TB. The close proximity to humans; the high prevalence of TB among humans in range countries; and the intermingling of captive and free-ranging elephants in some areas make TB a serious threat to this endangered species.
Since 1994, 12 percent of Asian elephants within the U.S. have been diagnosed with TB. In Nepal, researchers will sample over 100 elephants. The elephant handlers will also be tested.
Serological tests would reduce the time to diagnosis, decrease animal and human exposure, and provide a cost effective means to increase surveillance of TB. These improvements will lead to fewer deaths from TB (by decreased environmental contamination and exposure of the susceptible population). Importantly, these technologies have potential application to a broad range of endangered species susceptible to TB for which suitable diagnostic techniques are currently lacking.
Elephant Care International is supporting this project financially and with personnel. Dr. Susan Mikota, our co-founder and the Director of Veterinary Programs & Research, will spend the month of January in Nepal, giving oversight and assistance to veterinary students from Nepal and the U.S. in sample collection. Update: Drs. Mikota (ECI) and Miller (Disney's Animal Kingdom) have been awarded a $4,500 grant to partially fund this Nepal TB Project.
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