An intrauterine device with potential to control fertility in feral equids

Gradil, Carlos M.; Joone, Christopher; Haire, Teresa; Fowler, Bradley; Zinchuk, Jacquelyn; Davies, Christopher J.; Ball, Barry A.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106795

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…More recently, IUDs have been developed as another fertility control method. IUDs can be implanted in nonpregnant females and are 100% effective at preventing pregnancy so long as they remain in the uterus (Gradil et al, 2021; Holyoak et al, 2021). However, most types of IUDs tested over longer time periods (>1 year) are not retained perfectly, and preliminary studies suggest that annual retention rates are between 80% and 90% (Daels & Hughes, 1995; Gradil et al, 2019; Holyoak et al, 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Decision makers might benefit from understanding trade‐offs between competing objectives that emerge among different alternatives (Converse, 2020; Hemming et al, 2022; Keeney & Raiffa, 1993). There are many alternative management actions that might be used to control horse populations (National Research Council, 2013), including gathering and removing animals (Bartholow, 2007), immunocontraceptive vaccines (e.g., GonaCon‐Equine, ZonaStat‐H; Baker et al, 2018; Kirkpatrick et al, 1992; Turner et al, 2007), intrauterine devices (IUDs) (Gradil et al, 2021; Holyoak et al, 2021), sterilization (e.g., colpotomy; Prado & Schumacher, 2017), and additional compound alternatives involving two or more management actions (Danvir, 2018; Garrott, 2018). Management alternatives can also be limited by legal constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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PopEquus: A predictive modeling tool to support management decisions for free‐roaming horse populations

Folt,

Schoenecker,

Ekernas

et al. 2023

Ecosphere

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Feral horse (Equus caballus) population management is a challenging problem around the world because populations often exhibit density‐independent growth, can exert negative ecological effects on ecosystems, and require great cost to be managed. However, strong value‐based connections between people and horses cause contention around management decisions. To help make informed decisions, natural resource managers might benefit from more detailed understanding of how horse management alternatives, including combinations of removals and fertility control methods, could achieve objectives of sustainable, multiple‐use ecosystems while minimizing overall horse handling and fiscal costs. Here, we describe a modeling tool that simulates horse management alternatives and estimates trade‐offs in predicted metrics related to population size, animal handling, and direct costs of management. The model considers six management actions for populations (removals for adoption or long‐term holding; fertility control treatment with three vaccines, intrauterine devices, and mare sterilization), used alone or in combination. We simulated 19 alternative management scenarios at 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐year management return intervals and identified efficiency frontiers among alternatives for trade‐offs between predicted population size and six management metrics. Our analysis identified multiple alternatives that could maintain populations within target population size ranges, but some alternatives (e.g., removal and mare sterilization, removal and GonaCon treatment) performed better at minimizing overall animal handling requirements and management costs. Cost savings increased under alternatives with more effective, longer lasting fertility control techniques over longer management intervals compared with alternatives with less‐effective, shorter lasting fertility control techniques. We built a user‐friendly website application, PopEquus, that decision makers and interested individuals can use to simulate management alternatives and evaluate trade‐offs among management and cost metrics. Our results and website application provide quantitative trade‐off tools for horse population management decisions and can help support value‐based management decisions for wild or feral horse populations and ecosystems at local and regional scales around the world.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PopEquus: A predictive modeling tool to support management decisions for free‐roaming horse populations

Folt,

Schoenecker,

Ekernas

et al. 2023

Ecosphere

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“…The presence of CuiUPODs was detected using a magnetic detector 2f and/or a cell phone compass on Day 60 and every week afterward. The reliability of the metal detector was 100%, i.e., true alarm alerts (Gradil et al 2021), and likewise for the cell phone compass.…”

Section: Monitoring Device Retentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1. The units can be uncoated (Gradil et al 2021;Joone et al 2021) or coated with hormones or antimicrobial/biocide chemical elements.…”

Section: Intrauterine Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

Testing copper intrauterine devices to mitigate uterine infections in mares: a pilot study

Gradil,

Jennette,

Becker

et al. 2024

Preprint

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This pilot study in seven mares evaluated the effectiveness of a one-time insertion of a novel hormone/drug-free copper intrauterine device (CuiUPOD with one to three copper-coated magnetic units) in controlling Streptococcus zooepidemicus in intrauterine-inoculated mares. The setting involved: initially inserting one unit into each mare; weekly trans-rectal ultrasound; blood progesterone assay; uterine swabs for cytology and microbial culture; uterine specimens for biopsy; and trans-abdominal detection of the CuiUPOD using a handheld magnetic detector and/or a cell phone compass. The study was complemented with an in vitro experiment. Infection persisted after a CuiUPOD with one magnetic unit was inserted, but subsided shortly after two additional magnetic units were used. By day 90, at device removal, and after a 30-day exposure to copper, all the mares presented no clinical signs of infection. Endometrial biopsies showed a grade improvement in two mares, but not significant (p >0.05), before and after CuiUPOD placement. The in vitro experiment demonstrated a time (24-96 hours) and dose-dependent response to Cu: three CuiUPODs - OD readings = 0.538; two CuiUPODs - OD = 0.513; and one CuiUPOD - OD = 0.452. As the concentration of copper increased, so did the antimicrobial effect. These findings suggest a promising use for the one-time application of a CuiUPOD with either two or three magnetic units to mitigate uterine infections in mares.

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Preliminary study of the contraceptive effect of a self-assembling intrauterine device (iUPODs) in mares maintained in a paddock with a fertile stallion

Hoopes

Gradil

Vanderwall

et al. 2021

Animal Reproduction Science

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An intrauterine device with potential to control fertility in feral equids

Cited by 3 publications

References 22 publications

PopEquus: A predictive modeling tool to support management decisions for free‐roaming horse populations

PopEquus: A predictive modeling tool to support management decisions for free‐roaming horse populations

Testing copper intrauterine devices to mitigate uterine infections in mares: a pilot study

Preliminary study of the contraceptive effect of a self-assembling intrauterine device (iUPODs) in mares maintained in a paddock with a fertile stallion

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