Reproductive hormonal patterns in pregnant, pseudopregnant and acyclic captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

Weyde, Leanne K. Van der; Martin, Graeme B.; Blackberry, Margaret; Gruen, V.; Harland, Aubrie A.; Paris, M.C.J.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.03.003

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The extraction method for samples from captive animals has been described previously (Van der Weyde et al, 2015). Logistical issues made transporting frozen samples from free-ranging populations difficult, so samples were first oven dried over low heat in the field and then transported to Australia before extraction.…”

Section: Faecal Extractionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Monitoring stress in captive and free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites

Weyde

Martin

Paris

2016

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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An understanding of stress physiology is important for species management because high levels of stress can hamper reproduction and affect an individual's ability to cope with threats to their survival, such as disease and human-wildlife conflict. A commonly used indicator of stress, faecal concentrations of cortisol metabolites (FCM), can be used to assess the impact of social, biological and environmental factors. Measurements of FCM are particularly valuable for endangered species that are logistically challenging to study and where non-invasive techniques are preferred. As the second most endangered canid in Africa, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) has been the focus of considerable conservation research, yet there is still little understanding of factors associated with stress, in either captive or free-ranging populations. The present study therefore aimed to determine whether stress levels differ between captive and free-ranging populations, and to detect social, biological and environmental factors that are stressful in these populations. Faecal samples were collected from 20 captive and 62 free-ranging animals. Within free-ranging populations, the sexes differed significantly, but there was no effect of social status, age or breeding period for either sex.Captive females had higher FCM concentrations than free-ranging females. In captive populations, FCM concentrations differed among zoos and with reproductive status in females, but were not related to age class or group-housing structure. In conclusion, FCM is a useful indicator of stress and should be considered an integrative aspect of management, for both in-situ and ex-situ African wild dog populations.

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Section: Faecal Extractionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…were available during the study period. The collection protocol used in European zoos has been described previously (Van der Weyde et al, 2015) and a similar protocol was followed in Australia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring stress in captive and free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites

Weyde

Martin

Paris

2016

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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“…An antibody accuracy check showed that recovery of known amounts of progesterone (0.19-100 ng/mL) added to pools of diluted extracted feces was 107% at 1:100 for PdG (y = 1.030x + 0.002, r 2 = 0.998, F 1,17 = 5397). Recovery of known amounts of estrogen (0.039-10.0 ng/mL) was 119% at 1:50 for E2c (y = 1.607x + 9.381, r 2 = 0.992, F 1,15 = 714). The mono-P4 and poly-P4 EIAs were not biologically validated as neither clearly demonstrated a rise in progestogen metabolites during pregnancy.…”

Section: Enzyme Immunoassays (Eias) and Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We determined gastrointestinal transit time for one male and one female pygmy hippo housed at the same facility and fed the same diet. We used an easily identifiable fecal marker (glitter; Sulyn Industries, Coral Springs, Florida, USA), as previously described in similar studies investigating transit time [14,15], mixed with grain and fed to each hippo. We recorded the time from ingestion until the first and last passage of glitter in the feces for both hippos.…”

Section: Gastrointestinal Transit Timementioning

confidence: 99%

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

Flacke

Schwarzenberger

Penfold³

et al. 2017

Theriogenology

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The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is endangered in the wild and very little is known about its reproductive biology. In zoological facilities, this species experiences a number of reproductive issues that complicate breeding management, including a high rate of stillbirths and failure of many pairs to reproduce. We conducted a comprehensive study to evaluate reproductive cycles and pregnancy in this species using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for fecal hormone metabolite analysis. Fresh fecal samples were collected twice weekly for a one to three year period from 36 female pygmy hippos housed at 24 zoological institutions. Samples were analyzed in three separate laboratories. Three progestogen metabolite EIAs (Pg-diol: 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol 3HS:BSA; PdG: pregnanediol-3-glucuronide R13904; mono-P4: Quidel clone 425) and three estrogen metabolite EIAs (E2a: estradiol-17β-OH 17-HS:BSA; E2b: estradiol 17β R0008; E2c: estradiol 17β R4972) accurately reflected reproductive events. Average estrous cycle length was 31.8 ± 7.4 days based on estrogen metabolite peaks and 30.9 ± 7.3 days based on nadir to nadir progestogen metabolite concentrations. Cyclical patterns in both estrogen and progestogen metabolites were detected throughout the year, indicating a lack of seasonality. Estrogen metabolite peaks were also observed during pregnancy and lactation, suggesting that follicular development occurs during both reproductive states. Pregnancy was most reliably demonstrated by elevation in progestogen metabolites (Pg-diol or PdG) in the second half of gestation. Average gestation length based on breeding to calving date was 203 ± 4 days for 15 pregnancies. This comprehensive overview of the reproductive biology of the female pygmy hippo provides valuable data for guiding long-term breeding management for this endangered species and serves as a baseline for future studies addressing the potential influence of social structure, diet, body condition, and other husbandry factors on estrous cycling and reproduction.

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“…Behavioural suppression of subordinate reproduction through mate guarding of the alpha female by the alpha male is one of the mechanisms seen in AWDs (Van Heerden and Kuhn 1985). Moreover, it is known that most subordinate AWD females ovulate, as shown by noninvasive faecal hormone monitoring (Van der Weyde et al 2015), the high degree of glandulocystic endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra evident in captive individuals (Asa et al 2014), as well as the occasional litter (Spiering et al 2009); suggesting that reproductive suppression in females is behaviourally controlled (i.e. they are fertile but prevented from mating).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social rank does not affect sperm quality in male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

Berghe

Paris

Sarnyai

et al. 2019

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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Sperm banking and AI could benefit endangered African wild dog conservation. However, it is unclear whether their dominance hierarchy causes a decrease in reproductive and sperm quality parameters in subordinate males that typically do not breed. In this study, we investigated the effect of social rank on male reproductive parameters, including faecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations, prostate and testes volume, preputial gland size, semen collection success and sperm quality. Samples were obtained from captive males (prebreeding season: n=12 from four packs; breeding season: n=24 from seven packs) that were classified as alpha (dominant), beta or gamma (subordinates) based on the frequency of dominant versus submissive behaviours. In the prebreeding season, semen was successfully collected from all alpha but only half the subordinate males, with urine contamination (associated with lower rank) significantly reducing total and progressive motility, sperm motility index, normal sperm morphology and acrosome integrity. The breeding season was associated with a significant increase in faecal androgens, prostate and testis volume, as well as progressive motility and the total number of spermatozoa ejaculated. However, with the exception of prostate volume (mean±s.e.m: 12.5±4.5, 7.1±1.0 and 7.3±1.0cm3 in alpha, beta and gamma males respectively; P=0.035), all other reproductive and sperm quality parameters did not differ between males of each social rank. In conclusion, reproductive suppression of subordinate males appears to be behaviourally mediated, because males of all social ranks produce semen of similar quality, making them suitable candidates for sperm banking, particularly during the breeding season when sperm quality improves.

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Reproductive hormonal patterns in pregnant, pseudopregnant and acyclic captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

Cited by 16 publications

References 35 publications

Monitoring stress in captive and free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites

Monitoring stress in captive and free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites

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

Social rank does not affect sperm quality in male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

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