Effect of the GnRH vaccine GonaCon on the fertility, physiology and behaviour of wild boar

Massei, Giovanna; Cowan, David P.; Coats, Julia; Gladwell, F.; Lane, Jeffrey E.; Miller, Lowell A.

doi:10.1071/wr07132

Cited by 48 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…We confirmed that free-living wild boar responded to GonaConÔ by producing GnRH antibodies at levels that are known to be associated with infertility in captive wild boar and feral pigs (Miller et al 2003;Killian et al 2006;Massei et al 2008Massei et al , 2012. It also appeared that, as previously found in bison (Miller et al 2004), GonaConÔ vaccination did not affect existing pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Effects of a GnRH vaccine on the movement and activity of free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa)

et al. 2014

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Context. Fertility control is being promoted as a non-lethal means of managing wildlife populations. We recently evaluated a single-dose injectable immunocontraceptive vaccine (GonaConÔ) on captive female wild boar for effectiveness and potential side effects; reproductive output was inhibited for 4-6 years, with no obvious detrimental effects on physiology and behaviour.Aims. We injected individual free-living wild boar individuals with the fertility-control vaccine GonaConÔ to examine its effectiveness (measured as raised levels of GnRH antibodies) and looked for potential changes in movement and activity patterns.Methods. We trapped, fitted telemetry devices to, and released wild boar individuals living in woodland in the West Midlands region of England between 2006 and 2010. We compared data on movements and activity among 10 adult females treated with the vaccine and 11 controls treated with saline only. We measured anti-GnRH antibody titres in six recaptured boar individuals as an indicator of the effectiveness of the vaccine.Key results. Post-treatment GnRH antibody titres varied among the boar individuals; four of five treated sows resampled between 9 and 30 weeks post-injection had antibody titres high enough to block reproduction (detectable at 1 : 32 000-1 : 64 000 dilution). At least three treated females were pregnant at the time of vaccination; there was no subsequent evidence that the vaccine interfered with pregnancy. According to the distances moved per hour over a 24-h cycle and the daily activity cycle in relation to season, there were no differences in the behaviour of treated and control females that were likely to be biologically significant. The behaviour of two treated females monitored soon after vaccination and again 12 months later also showed no major differences.Conclusions. Free-living wild boar responded to treatment with a 1.0-mL (1000 mg) dose of an anti-GnRH vaccine and no major adverse effects on activity and movement were subsequently detected.Implications. Our results indicated that the vaccine could be more widely evaluated in the field against overabundant or nuisance populations. Such populations are increasingly found in urban areas and parks, where culling may not be an option. We suggest that further refinement of this approach for managing wild boar populations, including development of an oral vaccine, are warranted.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Effects of a GnRH vaccine on the movement and activity of free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa)

et al. 2014

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“…The suppression of reproductive function using an anti-GnRF vaccine has been demonstrated in numerous studies in cattle [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], sheep [10,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], pig [22][23][24][25][26][27][28], horse [29][30][31][32][33][34] and in wild animals [35][36][37][38][39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) with Bopriva significantly decreases testicular development, serum testosterone levels and physical activity in pubertal bulls

Janett

Gerig

Tschuor³

et al. 2012

Theriogenology

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) on testicular development, testosterone secretion, and physical activity in pubertal bulls. The experiment was performed using 44 bulls aged between 6 and 7 mo. Twenty-three animals were vaccinated twice 4 wk apart with 1 mL of Bopriva (Pfizer, Animal Health, Parkville, Australia) and 21 bulls served as matched controls. Serum GnRF antibody titer and testosterone concentration as well as body weight and scrotal circumference were determined in all bulls for 24 wk from the first vaccination. In addition, physical activity was analyzed in 11 vaccinated and in 10 control animals using the ALPRO DeLaval activity meter system (DeLaval AG, Sursee, Switzerland). The results show that vaccination significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all parameters evaluated except body weight. Antibody titers to GnRF began to rise 2 wk after the first vaccination and reached peak values 2 wk after the second injection. Significant group differences in anti-GnRF titer were present for 22 wk following the first vaccination. Testosterone concentrations were significantly lower between weeks 6 to 24 after first vaccination in bulls with Bopriva compared with control animals. In vaccinated bulls testicular development was impaired after the second injection and scrotal circumference was significantly smaller between weeks 8 to 24 after first vaccination. Physical activity of vaccinated bulls was reduced after the booster injection with significant group differences for a continuous period of 106 days. In conclusion, vaccination against GnRF with Bopriva in pubertal bulls decreased testosterone levels in peripheral blood, testicular development, and physical activity but did not affect weight gain. AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vaccination against gonadotropinreleasing factor (GnRF) on testicular development, testosterone secretion and physical activity in pubertal bulls. The experiment was performed using 44 bulls aged between 6 and 7 months. Twenty-three animals were vaccinated twice 4 weeks apart with 1 mL of Bopriva ® (Pfizer Animal Health, Australia) and 21 bulls served as matched controls. Serum GnRF antibody titer and testosterone concentration as well as body weight and scrotal circumference were determined in all bulls for 24 weeks from the first vaccination. In addition, physical activity was analyzed in 11 vaccinated and in 10 control animals using the ALPRO  DeLaval activity meter system (DeLaval AG, Sursee, Switzerland). The results show that vaccination significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all parameters evaluated except body weight. Antibody 2 titers to GnRF began to rise 2 weeks after the first vaccination and reached peak values 2 weeks after the second injection. Significant group differences in anti-GnRF titer were present for 22 weeks following the first vaccination. Testosterone concentrations were significantly lower between weeks 6 to 24 after first vaccination in bulls w...

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“…Formulated as an injectable, single-dose immunocontraceptive, GonaCon induced infertility for several years in deer, wild boar, pigs, cats, horses and bison (Bison bison) (e.g. Miller et al 2000;Killian et al 2008;Massei et al 2008Massei et al , 2012) ( Table 1). As GonaCon prevents ovulation, treated females and males do not exhibit oestrous behaviour; however, male deer showed abnormal antler development (Fagerstone et al 2008).…”

Section: Immunocontraceptive Vaccinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertility control to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts: a review

2014

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Abstract. As human populations grow, conflicts with wildlife increase. Concurrently, concerns about the welfare, safety and environmental impacts of conventional lethal methods of wildlife management restrict the options available for conflict mitigation. In parallel, there is increasing interest in using fertility control to manage wildlife. The present review aimed at analysing trends in research on fertility control for wildlife, illustrating developments in fertility-control technologies and delivery methods of fertility-control agents, summarising the conclusions of empirical and theoretical studies of fertility control applied at the population level and offering criteria to guide decisions regarding the suitability of fertility control to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. The review highlighted a growing interest in fertility control for wildlife, underpinned by increasing numbers of scientific studies. Most current practical applications of fertility control for wild mammals use injectable single-dose immunocontraceptive vaccines mainly aimed at sterilising females, although many of these vaccines are not yet commercially available. One oral avian contraceptive, nicarbazin, is commercially available in some countries. Potential new methods of remote contraceptive delivery include bacterial ghosts, virus-like particles and genetically modified transmissible and non-transmissible organisms, although none of these have yet progressed to field testing. In parallel, new species-specific delivery systems have been developed. The results of population-level studies of fertility control indicated that this approach may increase survival and affect social and spatial behaviour of treated animals, although the effects are species-and context-specific. The present studies suggested that a substantial initial effort is generally required to reduce population growth if fertility control is the sole wildlife management method. However, several empirical and field studies have demonstrated that fertility control, particularly of isolated populations, can be successfully used to limit population growth and reduce human-wildlife conflicts. In parallel, there is growing recognition of the possible synergy between fertility control and disease vaccination to optimise the maintenance of herd immunity in the management of wildlife diseases. The review provides a decision tree that can be used to determine whether fertility control should be employed to resolve specific human-wildlife conflicts. These criteria encompass public consultation, considerations about animal welfare and feasibility, evaluation of population responses, costs and sustainability.

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Effect of the GnRH vaccine GonaCon on the fertility, physiology and behaviour of wild boar

Cited by 48 publications

References 38 publications

Effects of a GnRH vaccine on the movement and activity of free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Effects of a GnRH vaccine on the movement and activity of free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) with Bopriva significantly decreases testicular development, serum testosterone levels and physical activity in pubertal bulls

Fertility control to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts: a review

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