The α-globulin group contains positive acute phase proteins, the β-globulins include transferrin, complement factors, lipoproteins and some immunoglobulins. Globulins consist of hundreds of different proteins, which migrate into defined fractions, conventionally grouped as α-, β-, and γ-globulins. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is considered the reference standard for the determination of albumin and globulin. Median values for TSP of 81 g/L, albumin of 39 g/L and globulin of 39 g/L have been published for Sumatran rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
In comparison, means or medians reported for the black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, are 81–95 g/L for total serum protein (TSP), 35–36 g/L for albumin and 46–54 g/L for globulins. Mean concentrations reported for total serum or plasma protein range from 76–101 g/L, albumin from 25–28 g/L and globulins from 66–77 g/L. Noteworthy in these recent, as well as older studies, is the high concentration of serum or plasma total protein (particularly globulins) and low concentration of albumin in this species.
Ĭlinical pathology plays an important role in the diagnosis and monitoring of animal disease, and clinical chemistry reference intervals for the white rhinoceros for various analytical methods have been recently published. At least 38 orphan rhinoceros calves were being cared for in South Africa at the end of 2016, many of which required veterinary care during their rehabilitation process.
For example, 54 injured rhinoceros were treated by South African National Parks veterinarians from 2014–2016, 31 of which were ultimately euthanized due to their injuries. These figures do not include those animals which survive a poaching attempt and are subsequently treated by veterinarians. The southern white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum (referred to hereafter as the white rhinoceros), is heavily poached in southern Africa, with over 4 000 animals killed in South Africa between 2013 and the end of 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.ĭata Availability: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.įunding: Funding for this project was provided by: The Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa Postgraduate research bursary from the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority, South Africa.Ĭompeting interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Received: MaAccepted: JPublished: July 25, 2018Ĭopyright: © 2018 Hooijberg et al. PLoS ONE 13(7):Įditor: Ivano Eberini, Università degli Studi di Milano, ITALY These protein changes are similar to those seen in human patients with wounds rather than classic acute phase or chronic inflammatory responses.Ĭitation: Hooijberg EH, Miller M, Cray C, Buss P, Steenkamp G, Goddard A (2018) Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum). Wounded animals had lower concentrations of total serum protein, albumin, total globulin, α and β1 globulins, lower percentages of α2 and β1 globulins, and higher percentages of β2 and γ globulins. Results were compared to those from 30 animals with various degrees and chronicities of tissue trauma. Six globulin fractions were identified: α1a, α1b, α2, β1, β2 and γ. A standardised gating system together with identification of specific proteins by mass spectrometry aided in fraction identification. Reference intervals for total serum protein and agarose gel electrophoretic albumin and globulin fractions were generated using serum samples from 49 healthy free-ranging adult white rhinoceros. The aim of this study was to develop reference intervals for agarose gel SPE in healthy white rhinoceros and to compare these serum protein electrophoresis results to those from animals with tissue trauma. Furthermore, identification of changes in globulins in animals with poaching and other injuries can guide discovery of potentially useful biomarkers of inflammation. Investigation of globulin fractions by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is the first step towards evaluation of the proteome in the southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum).