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Thongphakdee A, Kiatsomboon S, Noimoon S, Kongprom U, Boonorana I, Karoon S, Thawnern J, Sakulthai A, Sombutputorn P, Sukmak M, Punkong C, Thongtip N. Semen characteristics and second successful artificial insemination of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Thailand. Vet World 2022; 15:1246-1255. [PMID: 35765477 PMCID: PMC9210840 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1246-1255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: As the number of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) continues to decline, maintaining healthy populations under human care is vital. Male fertility assessment is essential for understanding the reproductive status, which can help to uncover underlying problems and improve the rate of pregnancy success. The objectives of this study in Asian elephants were as follows: (1) To investigate the semen characteristics; (2) to compare the relative seminal vesicle size and semen characteristics; (3) to compare the semen characteristics between good-motile (>60% progressive motility) and poor-motile (<60% progressive motility) ejaculates; and (4) to investigate the pregnancy success rate after artificial insemination (AI) with combined chilled and frozen semen. Materials and Methods: In total, 153 ejaculates were collected by manual rectal stimulation from 25 bulls. The volume, pH, sperm concentration, progressive motility, viability, morphology, and membrane integrity were investigated in each ejaculate. Assessment of accessory sex glands was conducted using transrectal ultrasonography to compare the relative seminal vesicle size and semen characteristics, and the bulls were divided into two groups according to the size of the ampulla (<7 or ≥7 cm2). For the comparison of good and poor-motile ejaculates and semen characteristics, the samples were divided into two groups: Good-motile (>60% progressive motility) and poor-motile (<60% progressive motility) ejaculates. Semen ejaculates for AI were collected from three bulls. The estrous cycles of four females were monitored using an enzyme immunoassay. Seven AI attempts were conducted using frozen and/or chilled semen by endoscopic visualization. AI was repeated 1 day before the luteinizing hormone surge, on the day of the surge, and 1 day after the surge. Pregnancy was confirmed by monitoring the serum progesterone profile and the abdomen and mammary glands changes. Results: From 153 ejaculates, the mean±standard error values of progressive motility, semen volume, sperm concentration, pH, and viability were 40.18%±2.28%, 40.94±3.86 mL, 1,205.58±62.26×106 sperm/mL, 7.50±0.10, and 56.17%±1.96%, respectively. Comparing ampulla size and semen characteristics revealed that the bulls with ampullae of ≥7 cm2 yielded significantly larger volume ejaculates. However, there were no significant differences in sperm motility and concentration. The comparison of semen characteristics between good- and poor-motile ejaculates revealed that the former had significantly higher pH, viability, normal acrosomes, intact membranes, and normal head and tail morphology but often had a significantly lower volume and sperm concentration. From seven AI attempts in four females, one female had a confirmed pregnancy (14.3% pregnancy rate), and delivered a healthy live female baby weighing 128 kg at 21 months and 12 days of gestation. The baby is now 3 years old and in a healthy condition, with normally developing growth and behavior. Conclusion: The semen characteristics of Asian elephants can be used as the baseline reference for further applications. The ampullae size indicates semen quantity but not quality. Our success in producing an elephant calf from AI using frozen and chilled semen demonstrated that AI can be used as an alternative approach for the breeding management of Asian elephants. However, the semen of Asian elephants is of poor quality, especially in terms of membrane integrity; thus, the improvement in semen quality through intensive and careful management of elephant health and fertility remains a challenge for the future. Furthermore, a sperm bank should be established to develop sperm cryopreservation, which will be invaluable for improving the genetic diversity of the Asian elephant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampika Thongphakdee
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Supalak Kiatsomboon
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Sakhon Noimoon
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Urarikha Kongprom
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Itti Boonorana
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Santhita Karoon
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Jedsada Thawnern
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Apichaya Sakulthai
- Department of Farm Technology Management, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
| | | | - Manakorn Sukmak
- Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
| | - Chainarong Punkong
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Nikorn Thongtip
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology, Science and Technology Postgraduate Education and Research Department Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10903, Thailand; Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
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Luther I, Maree L, Kotze A, Hildebrandt T, Göritz F, Hermes R, van der Horst G. Sperm motility, kinematics, morphometry and morphology over two seasons in free-ranging African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 32:425-438. [PMID: 31972123 DOI: 10.1071/rd19182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to address the lack of information on quantitative semen and sperm characteristics of free-ranging African elephants. Nineteen ejaculates were collected from 12 elephant bulls by means of electroejaculation in spring (Season 1, end of dry season, n=7) and in autumn (Season 2, end of rainy season, n=12). While most elephant cows are in oestrus in the rainy season, it is not evident whether sperm quality also improves during this period. Semen samples were assessed using computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), brightfield microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Seasonal differences and individual variation in sperm quality of bulls were apparent, with ejaculates collected during Season 2 revealing higher percentages for total motility, progressive motility, rapid-swimming spermatozoa and kinematic parameters compared with Season 1 (P<0.05). Although normal sperm morphology percentage was similar over the two seasons, more sperm tail defects were found in Season 2 (P<0.05). The baseline reference data and multivariate sperm parameter associations reported in this study can be used to predict elephant bull sperm quality and potential to fertilise. It is clear that CASA can detect subtle differences in sperm quality of African elephant ejaculates and should be the approach for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Luther
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; and National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; and GEOsperm, Wildlife Reproduction and Biotechnology, PO Box 3300, Brits, 0250, South Africa
| | - Liana Maree
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; and National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotze
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; and Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Thomas Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard van der Horst
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; and National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; and Corresponding author.
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