Table 1 Overview of clinical health variables in captive African elephants and Asian elephants
Clinical health variable | Definition | African (n = 61) | Asian (n = 38) |
|---|---|---|---|
Body Condition Score (BCS) | Scoring system to assess physical condition; 1 = thinnest; 5 = fattest [16] | Categorical BCS 3 n = 4 BCS 4 n = 29 BCS 5 n = 28 | Categorical BCS < 3 n = 3 BCS 3 n = 5 BCS 4 n = 7 BCS 5 n = 23 |
Gastrointestinal (GI) Issues | Occurrence of colic, bloat, or abnormal feces within 6 weeks prior to fecal sample used in microbial analyses [15] | Categorical Y: n = 8 N: n = 53 | Categorical Y: n = 3 N: n = 35 |
Lameness/stiffness | Record of reduced range of motion, favoring one or more limb, abnormal gait within 6 weeks prior to fecal sample used in microbial analyses [15] | Categorical Y: n = 5 N: n = 56 | Categorical Y: n = 7 N: n = 31 |
Antibiotics and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) | Record of antibiotics or NSAIDs administered within 6 weeks prior the fecal sample used in microbial analyses [2] | Categorical—Not included in analyses due to sample size Y: n = 0 N: n = 61 | Categorical Y: n = 3 N: n = 35 |
Age | The age of the elephant (in years) on date medical record review began [15] | Continuous Range: 26–52 Median: 33 Mean: 33.9 | Continuous Range: 22–52 Median: 41 Mean: 40.0 |
Zoo | Zoo facility where elephant was housed during EWS [15] | Categorical n = 22 | Categorical n = 25 |