Assessment of estrus cyclicity in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) by measurement of fecal progesterone metabolite 5α-P-3OH, using a non-invasive assay

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

“…Moreover, the serum progestagen concentration profile in our research could indicate that luteal activity was at its highest level in mid-gestation (in order to maintain pregnancy) and then declined to its lowest level from 7 to 2 days prior to calving, which is supported by the serum progesterone concentration profiles of pregnant elephants found in other studies [5, 6, 16, 17, 19,20,21, 24, 25]. The average fecal progestagen concentration in this study was lower than the 5α-P-3OH (major progesterone metabolite in elephant feces) concentration that was found previously [11]. That study used a 100% specific antibody, while our study used a 64% specific antibody with 5α-P-3OH (Monoclonal antibody Quidel clone no.…”

“…Thus, it is necessary to encourage breeding management and to maintain the pregnancy of captive Asian elephants in order to increase the population and maintain genetic diversity. For the conservation of the captive elephant population, the assessment of female reproductive functioning is necessary [11], such as determining the pregnancy endocrine pattern. For pregnant elephants, determining the steroid level patterns in their serum and feces is an alternative method for assessing their pregnancy status, since there is no disruption of reproductive function during pregnancy.…”

“…For pregnant elephants, determining the steroid level patterns in their serum and feces is an alternative method for assessing their pregnancy status, since there is no disruption of reproductive function during pregnancy. For free-ranging or wild elephants, measurement of fecal steroid metabolites is an especially useful and noninvasive method for monitoring reproductive cyclicity and pregnancy [10, 11]. Serum progesterone concentration during pregnancy in elephants varies from <50 to 2,100 p g/m l , mean values 400 to 600 p g/m l and significantly declines in the 2 to 3 days before parturition [5, 6, 17, 20, 21].…”

“…Normally, the main progesterone hormones in feces are in the form of progesterone metabolites (5α-pregnane-3, 20-dione [5α-dihydroprogesterone: 5α-DHP] and 5α-pregnane-3-ol-20-one [5α-P-3OH]). However, the levels of fecal allopregnanolone (5α-P-3OH) predominate and are more useful for determining reproductive status, ranging from 1.41 to 7.38 µ g/g [11] during pregnancy accompanied by a positive correlation with the level of serum progesterone [8, 10, 11, 15]. Serum glucocorticoid (its main forms are cortisol and corticosterone) is commonly measured for evaluating stress responsiveness in captive or restrained elephants [23].…”

Detection of pregnancy and fertility status in big cats using an enzyme immunoassay based on 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one

“…Furthermore, ELISA has more advantages for the analysis of many samples. In the last two decades, ELISAs have been developed for monitoring fecal steroid metabolites in a variety of animals [9,7,10,15,[17][18][19]22,[29][30][31][32]. Studies have also indicated that different species excrete different metabolites of the same parent steroid compound due to changes in metabolism and excretion pattern [11,26].…”