Health effects of GnRH immunocontraception of wild white‐tailed deer in New Jersey

Abstract

We evaluated the health effects of GonaCon TM Immunocontraceptive Vaccine in individual white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on a fully fenced corporate office campus in suburban New Jersey, USA. We captured and vaccinated adult females, fawns of both sexes, and yearling and adult males, and evaluated their health status through field and necropsy observations, assessment of blood chemistry, and histopathological examination of selected tissues. One 1.0-mL intramuscular injection of vaccine was delivered by hand to the hind limb of each GonaCon-treated deer. Control deer received sham injections (ad F) or no injections (yearling and ad M). Mean body-condition scores of GonaCon-treated adult females and males were greater than those of corresponding control groups. No evidence of limping or impaired mobility was noted in study deer during the 2-year study. No adverse effects of vaccination were detected in major organs, organ systems, body condition, fat deposits, or blood chemistry. Injection-site lesions (granulomatous nodules and sterile abscesses) occurred in the deep hind-limb musculature of >85% of GonaCon-treated and sham-injected deer but were not detectable externally. Reactions at injection sites and in lymph nodes were typical responses to injection of vaccines formulated as water-in-oil emulsions, especially those, like GonaCon, that contain mycobacteria. The formation of injection-site lesions may be a necessary component of the immune response that causes infertility in treated animals. Natural resource managers who use GonaCon to manage deer in settings such as developed areas and public parks will ultimately determine its value and applicability. ß

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

“…Miller et al 2008b;Killian et al 2008a;Gray et al 2010) or on potential side-effects (e.g. Kirkpatrick and Turner 2007;Curtis et al 2008;Gionfriddo et al 2011;Yoder and Miller 2011). Results from other studies indicate that the long-term effectiveness of GonaConÔ, in terms of both duration of infertility and proportion of animals rendered infertile, varies in relation to species and possibly health condition of the animals.…”

“…A contraceptive suitable for field applications in wildlife management (Fagerstone et al 2010;Gionfriddo et al 2011) should: (1) render a high proportion of animals infertile for several years after administration of a single dose, (2) have nil or minimal negative side-effects, (3) target preferentially females but ideally be also effective on males, (4) be relatively inexpensive, and (5) be available as an oral formulation. Recently developed, single-dose immunocontraceptives meet most of these criteria, although these compounds are currently available only as injectable formulations.…”

Fertility control to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts: a review

“…For example, sterilised feral Soay rams showed increased food consumption and survival compared with control rams, ultimately leading to increased animal numbers and impact on the plant community (Jewell 1986). PZP-based immunocontraceptives increased lifespan and body conditions of mares Kirkpatrick and Turner 2007), tubal ligation increased survival in rabbits (Twigg et al 2000;Williams et al 2007) and GonaCon improved body condition of deer (Gionfriddo et al 2011b). Conversely, Saunders et al (2002) observed no differences in survival, dispersal or territory size of surgically sterilised foxes compared with fertile foxes, although sterilised vixens were more likely than fertile females to share their territories with each other.…”

“…GonaCon had no adverse effects on health of wild boar, white-tailed deer and prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus; Massei et al 2008Massei et al , 2012Yoder and Miller 2010;Gionfriddo et al 2011b). In white-tailed deer, reactions at injection sites and in lymph nodes were typical responses to injection of adjuvanted vaccines formulated as water-in-oil emulsions (Miller et al 2008a).…”

“…Field PZP AdjuVac T = 63% 50% 56% C = 40% 31% 14% Fertility control for human-wildlife conflicts Wildlife Researchnodules and sterile abscesses) occurred in the deep hind-limb musculature of >85% of GonaCon-treated animals, although no evidence of limping or impaired mobility was observed in these animals (Gionfriddo et al 2011b). GonaCon had no adverse effects on health of wild boar, white-tailed deer and prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus; Massei et al 2008Massei et al , 2012Yoder and Miller 2010;Gionfriddo et al 2011b).…”