We evaluated the multiyear contraceptive efficacy of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine GonaCon, the porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccine SpayVac and the human intrauterine device (IUD) 380 Copper 'T' in mustang mares provided by the State of Nevada. Eight untreated control mares were compared with 12 mares treated with SpayVac, 16 mares treated with GonaCon and 15 mares treated with the copper-containing IUD. Rates of contraception for Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively for SpayVac were 100% (12 of 12), 83% (10 of 12), 83% (10 of 12) and 83% (10 of 12), rates for GonaCon were 94% (15 of 16), 60% (9 of 15), 60% (9 of 15) and 40% (6 of 15) and rates for IUD-treated mares were 80% (12 of 15), 29% (4 of 14),14% (2 of 14) and 0% (0 of 14). Antibody titres against PZP and GnRH declined over the four-year study. For mares given SpayVac, uterine oedema was commonly observed. IUDs were visible by ultrasonography in nonpregnant mustang mares, suggesting that pregnant mares did not retain their IUD. IUD retention may be a function of uterine size: pony mares with IUDs had high retention and contraception rates for 4-5 years. We conclude that long-term contraception of mustang mares with a single shot of either the SpayVac or GonaCon vaccine is possible.

Context. Contraception is increasingly used as a management technique to reduce fertility in wildlife populations, but the feasibility of contraceptive formulations has been limited until recently as they have required multiple treatments to achieve prolonged infertility.Aims. We tested the efficacy and evaluated potential side effects of two contraceptive formulations, a porcine zona pellucida (PZP) formulation, SpayVac®, and a gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) formulation GonaCon-B™, in a population of free-roaming feral horses (Equus caballus). Both formulations were developed to provide several years of infertility with one injection. 2Methods. Females were treated in June 2005 with either GonaCon-B™ (n=24), SpayVac® (n=20), adjuvant only (n=22), or received no injection (n=18). Females were monitored for fertility status year round for three years post treatment.Key results. Both contraceptive treatments significantly reduced fertility for three years.Fertility rates for GonaCon-B™ mares were 39%, 42% and 31% respectively and 37%, 50%, and 44% for SpayVac® mares. During the same seasons, 61%, 67% and 76% of control females were fertile. We found no significant effects from contraceptive treatment on the sex ratio of foals, birthing season, or foal survival.Conclusions. These results demonstrate that both vaccines are capable of significantly reducing fertility for several years without boosters.Implications. Contraceptive vaccines examined in this study represent a useful tool for the management of feral horses, due to their being efficacious for three years in the absence of booster immunisations.

Mobilization of human cells in the sheep model parallels human PB and BM hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) mobilization in healthy human donors in their ability to engraft, differentiate, and repopulate secondary hosts. Thus, this model can become a useful tool to study mobilization regimens, mechanisms, and quality of products obtained.

Objective-We and numerous others have long used sheep as a predictive model system in which to explore stem cell transplantation. Unfortunately, while numerous markers are available to identify and isolate human HSC, no reagents exist that allow HSC/progenitors from sheep to be identified or purified, greatly impeding the application of this well-established large animal model to the study of autologous or allogeneic HSC transplantation. The current studies were undertaken to create a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to sheep CD34 that would enable isolation and study of sheep HSC/ progenitors.Methods-A partial cDNA to the extracellular domain of the sheep CD34 antigen was PCR cloned, characterized, and used to genetically immunize mice and create hybridomas.Results-The resultant MoAb to sheep CD34 allows flow cytometric detection of sheep HSC/ progenitors present within bone marrow, cord blood, and mobilized peripheral blood. Moreover, this antibody can be used to enrich for HSC/progenitors with enhanced in vitro colony-forming potential, and also identifies endothelial cells in situ within paraffin-embedded tissue sections, in similarity to antibodies to human CD34. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Conclusions-The availability of this monoclonal antibody recognizing the stem cell antigen CD34 in sheep will greatly facilitate the study of autologous and allogeneic HSC transplantation using this clinically relevant large animal model. NIH Public Access

Controlling fertility of feral horses through the use of long-acting contraceptives or sterilization approaches has been championed as a reasonable and humane solution for addressing overpopulation problems in several western states. However, methods to accomplish long-term contraceptive efficacy of horses following a single treatment have been lacking. In fall 2002 and spring 2003, we initiated a study to compare the long-term efficacy of a single-shot contraceptive vaccine directed at gonadotropin releasing hormone (GonaCon ™) to that of a single-shot vaccine directed at the zona pellucida (SpayVac) and to the use of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD). Both vaccines were administered with AdjuVac ™ , an adjuvant developed at the National Wildlife Research Center. The objectives of the study were to determine: 1) 3-year efficacy for preventing pregnancy, 2) whether the contraceptive effects are reversible, and 3) whether there are contraindications. The Nevada Department of Agriculture provided the feral mares, which were maintained at the Nevada State Penitentiary, Carson City, facility. Mares were dewormed and given health vaccinations annually. Eight untreated control mares were compared to 12 mares treated with SpayVac, 16 mares treated with GonaCon ™ , and 15 mares treated with copper-containing IUDs. Only 25% (2/8) of the control mares were not pregnant or infertile in the first year. All mares in the SpayVac group were infertile, and 94% (15/16) were infertile in the GonaCon ™ group during the first breeding season. In Year 2, 80% (10/12) of the SpayVac-treated mares and 60% (9/15) of the GonaCon ™-treated mares were infertile. In Year 3, 80% of the SpayVac mares and 53% (8/15) of the GonaCon ™-treated mares were infertile. For IUD-treated mares, 80% (12/15) were infertile after Year 1, but only 29% (4/14) and 14% (2/14) were infertile after Years 2 and 3, respectively. For IUD mares that were infertile, it was possible to visualize the IUD by ultrasonography, leading us to conclude that mares that became pregnant had lost their IUDs. For mares given SpayVac, uterine edema was commonly observed. In Years 2 and 3, antibody titers for SpayVac were progressively lower compared to titers observed in Year 1.