Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

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Authors

Hooijberg, Emma Henriette
Miller, Michele
Cray, Carolyn
Buss, Peter Erik
Steenkamp, Gerhardus
Goddard, Amelia

Journal Title

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Publisher

Public Library of Science

Abstract

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). Furthermore, identification of changes in globulins in animals with poaching and other injuries can guide discovery of potentially useful biomarkers of inflammation. 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. Reference intervals for total serum protein and agarose gel electrophoretic albumin and globulin fractions were generated using serum samples from 49 healthy freeranging adult white rhinoceros. A standardised gating system together with identification of specific proteins by mass spectrometry aided in fraction identification. Six globulin fractions were identified: α1a, α1b, α2, β1, β2 and γ. Reference intervals were generated for total serum protein (76±111 g/L), albumin (10±27 g/L) and globulin fractions (α1a: 1.6±3.2 g/L; α1b: 1.7±3.6 g/L; α2: 16.1±26.6 g/L; β1: 6.6±18.2 g/L; β2: 11.8±30.4 g/L; γ: 10.4±23.1 g/L; albumin: globulin ratio: 0.12±0.39). Results were compared to those from 30 animals with various degrees and chronicities of tissue trauma. 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. These protein changes are similar to those seen in human patients with wounds rather than classic acute phase or chronic inflammatory responses.

Description

S1 Text. Methods. Detailed liquid chromatography±mass spectrometry method description.
S1 Table. Rhinoceros data. Raw SPE data and clinical information for healthy and injured rhinoceros.
S2 Table. Proteomic results. Detailed information for the proteins identified in the alpha1b and alpha2 bands.

Keywords

Globulin fractions, Serum samples, Albumin, Alpha 1a globulin, Alpha 1b globulin, Alpha 2 globulin, Beta globulin, Immunoglobulin, Plasma protein, Proteome, Unclassified drug, Agar gel electrophoresis, Blood sampling, Chronicity, Ecological procedures, Inflammation, Injury severity, Mass spectrometry, Placental mammal, Poaching, Protein blood level, Protein electrophoresis, Proteomics, Standardization, Tissue injury, White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE)

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Citation

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). PLoS ONE 13(7): e0200347. https://DOI.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200347.