Serological indicators of general condition would be helpful for monitoring or assessing ungulate wildlife. Toward that end, we report the 1st reference values for 2 cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), in neonatal elk (Cervus elaphus). We obtained blood samples from 140 calves ≤ 6 days old in Yellowstone National Park during summer 2003-2005. TL-6 values ranged from 0 to 1.21 pg/ml with a median of 0.03 pg/ml. TNF-α values ranged from 0 to 225.43 pg/ml with a median of 1.85 pg/ml. IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were not significant predictors of elk calf survival through 21 days. Development of ungulate-based IL-6 and TNF-α assays that provide greater sensitivity than cross-reacting human-based assays could be helpful in monitoring ungulate condition and health status comparisons among herds. Such information could provide indirect assessments of range quality or environmental influences among herds. © 2007 American Society of Mammalogists.
CITATION STYLE
Barber-Meyer, S. M., Johnson, C. R., Murtaugh, M. P., Mech, L. D., & White, P. J. (2007). Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha values in elk neonates. Journal of Mammalogy, 88(2), 421–426. https://doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-182.1
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.