The incidence of anterior and posterior presentation at birth in Asian (Elephas maximus) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana): a review study

Ilic, D. and Ilic, A. and Jakovljevic, B. and Dzigurski, J. and Dragic, N. and Simic, S. and Petkovic, B. and Sekulic, S.

Indian Journal of Animal Research (2021) 55: 863–866

DOI: 10.18805/IJAR.B-1319

Abstract

A review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE (published articles) as well as World Wide Web (video material) to determine the frequency of anterior and posterior presentation of the elephant at birth. Of 46 identified cases, 12 were in anterior and 34 in posterior presentation. The Fisher exact test (p=0.682) did not show a statistically significant difference in the distribution of presentations between the Loxodonta africana (2 anterior and 10 posterior presentation) and Elephas maximus (10 anterior and 24 posterior presentation). The ratio between anterior and posterior presentation 6:29 (18.51% versus 81.49%) at birth without knowing dystocia, is significantly different from the distribution anterior and posterior presentation 6:3 (66.7% versus 33.3%) in cases with dystocia (Fisher exact test p = 0.012). Obtained data shows that posterior presentation at birth in elephants is more often present than anterior, while anterior presentation is more often associated with dystocia.

Citation

Ilic, D., Ilic, A., Jakovljevic, B., Dzigurski, J., Dragic, N., Simic, S., Petkovic, B., & Sekulic, S. (2021). The incidence of anterior and posterior presentation at birth in Asian (Elephas maximus) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana): a review study. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 55(8), 863–866. https://doi.org/10.18805/IJAR.B-1319 wild animals, dystocia, parturition, clinical aspects, diagnosis, zoo animals, fetus, parturition complications, position

Keywords

• wild animals
• dystocia
• parturition
• clinical aspects
• diagnosis
• zoo animals
• fetus
• parturition complications
• position