Characterization and manipulation of reproductive cycles in the jaguar (Panthera onca)

Abstract

Basic reproductive information in female jaguars (Panthera onca) is lacking, thus longitudinal fecal samples from seven females were analyzed via enzyme immunoassay to measure estradiol and progestin metabolites throughout the year. Mean estrus length of 194 estrus periods measured hormonally was 6.5±0.3d, mean peak fecal estradiol concentration was 138.7±5.7ng/g; and in one female, estrus resumption occurred approximately 15d post-partum. Ovulation, as indicted by sustained elevated progestin concentrations (>20d), was successfully induced one time by treatment with exogenous hormones in one female and by physical vaginal stimulation in two females a combined total of three times. Elevated fecal progestin was observed outside exogenous stimulation on five occasions, suggesting ovulation occurred spontaneously. Mean length of physically induced and spontaneous pseudopregnancies was 24.7±4.2d and 29.6±2.6d, respectively, and mean length of pregnancy (n=2) was 98.0±0.0d. Mean peak progestin concentration for spontaneous and induced pseudopregnancies, and pregnancy was 7.4±1.4μg/g, 6.4±1.2μg/g, and 13.7±1.0μg/g, respectively. This data suggests jaguars are polyestrous and generally induced ovulators, with a moderate incidence of spontaneous ovulation. Additionally, two protocols to successfully stimulate ovarian activity in jaguars are described.

Reproductive analysis of male and female captive jaguars (Panthera onca) in a Colombian zoological park

“…A more recent study by Barnes et al (2015) characterized and manipulated the reproductive cycles in female jaguars showing spontaneous ovulation in this species, and multiple estrous cycles throughout the year and no notable seasonality. [5]. The hormonal characterization of the reproductive cycles of females has been conducted using noninvasive longitudinal monitoring techniques in feces of different species of felids in captivity, including the jaguar [4,5], lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), caracals (Caracal caracal), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), and domestic cats (Felis catus) [13] to evaluate hypophysis-gonad function in lions roaming free in the Serengeti savannah and in the crater of the Ngorongoro [14,15].…”

“…[5]. The hormonal characterization of the reproductive cycles of females has been conducted using noninvasive longitudinal monitoring techniques in feces of different species of felids in captivity, including the jaguar [4,5], lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), caracals (Caracal caracal), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), and domestic cats (Felis catus) [13] to evaluate hypophysis-gonad function in lions roaming free in the Serengeti savannah and in the crater of the Ngorongoro [14,15]. These noninvasive techniques permit learning about the physiological reproductive condition of animals found in zoological collections, with minimal human intervention, thus lowering animal stress and maintaining their well-being [16].…”

“…Techniques such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) allows the detection of hormonal metabolites. Its use has been successful in other felids such us tigers, lions, and caracals [13]; snow leopards [17]; clouded leopards [18] [19]; cheetahs [20]; ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) [21], margays (Leopardus wieddi) [21,22], and oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) [21] and jaguars [5,8,9]. Other studies have been conducted to evaluate the action of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) as a promoter of follicular growth and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as an inducer of ovulation in jaguars [5], clouded leopards [18,19], domestic cats [13,[23][24][25], ocelots [26], cheetahs [19], snow leopards [27], and tigers [28,29].…”

Reproductive Aspects of Jaguar (Panthera Onca): Female

“…The observable signs are vocalizations in the form of grunts, calling the male, rubbing against inanimate objects, lordosis, rolling on the ground, the female allows the male to sniff the vulva and accommodates it in order to perform the mating (Yescas and Ramírez, 2013). It has been reported that the mean estrous duration of 194 hormonally measured estrous periods in seven females was 6.50.3 d (Barnes et al, 2016). Oestrus: in this phase, fertilization is likely to occur, corpora lutea will develop and there will be progesterone secretion to maintain gestation.…”

Characterizing the reproductive biology of the female pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) through non-invasive endocrine monitoring

“…Lab C analyzed fecal extracts using a monoclonal progesterone antibody (mono-P4: Quidel clone 425), a polyclonal progesterone antibody (poly-P4: R4859), a pregnanediol antibody (PdG: pregnanediol-3-glucuronide, R13904) and an estrogen metabolite antibody (E2c: estradiol 17 R0008), all developed by Coralie Munro, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. A double-antibody EIA protocol was used as previously described [18,23]. The intraand inter-assay coefficients of variation for all assays were < 10% (average 2.58%) and < 20% (average 8.07%), respectively.…”