Reproductive management in captive and wild canids: contraception challenges

Boutelle, Sally; Bertschinger, H. U.

doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.2009.00107.x

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…1b). Similarly, a second minor breeding season in African wild dogs has been observed in South Africa (Boutelle and Bertschinger, 2010). The collective evidence suggests that reproduction of the African wild dog is generally seasonal, yet births can occur at every month of the year, supporting the idea that the window of fertility of the African wild dog is broader than described for temperate and arctic zone canids.…”

Section: Seasonality Of Reproductionsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…Behaviourally, the approach (approximately 1.5 months prior to the onset of pro-oestrus) of the breeding season in captive dogs in South Africa is marked by increased intrapack aggression, which mostly involves females (Boutelle and Bertschinger, 2010). Fighting as a result of aggression may become so severe that deaths occur and is indeed the most common cause of mortality in adult and sub-adult dogs in captivity in South Africa (van Heerden, 1986;van Heerden et al, 1996).…”

Section: Oestrous Cycle and Matingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Up to now, no hard figures have been collected, so the exact severity of the problem can only be speculated upon (M. Paris, personal communication). Mortality resulting from intra-pack aggression is presumably less common in freeranging dogs because they are less space-restricted and, as such, may be better able to avoid conflict (Boutelle and Bertschinger, 2010).…”

Section: Oestrous Cycle and Matingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, there is an urgent need to improve current methods of contraception for genetically over-represented captive individuals. Previous contraceptive administration of progestins, have been shown to greatly increase the risk of developing pyometra, to which the African wild dog bitch is highly susceptible (Hermes et al, 2001;Boutelle and Bertschinger, 2010). Deslorelin, a GnRH agonist, is currently the safest method for inducing reversible contraception in all carnivores, including the African wild dog, but further research is needed to gain more information on dosage and reversibility (Bertschinger et al, 2001Boutelle and Bertschinger, 2010).…”

Section: Further Research In African Wild Dog Reproductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Reproduction in the endangered African wild dog: Basic physiology, reproductive suppression and possible benefits of artificial insemination

Berghe

Paris

Soom

et al. 2012

Animal Reproduction Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

a b s t r a c tThe African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is an endangered exotic canid with less than 5500 animals remaining in the wild. Despite numerous strategies to conserve this species, numbers of free-living animals are in decline. It is a highly social species with a complex pack structure: separate male and female dominant hierarchies with, typically, participation of subdominant adults in the rearing of the dominant breeding pairs' pups. Basic reproductive knowledge is largely missing in this species, with only limited information available on the profile of reproductive hormones, based on non-invasive endocrine monitoring. The dominant or alpha male and female are reproductively active and the subdominants are generally reproductively suppressed. However, the occasional production of litters by subdominant females and evidence of multiple paternity within litters suggests that fertility of subordinates is not completely inhibited. In this respect, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge about the mechanisms governing reproduction and reproductive suppression in African wild dogs, particularly the influence of dominance and pack structure on both male and female fertility. Given concerns over the long-term survival of this species, further research in this area is essential to provide valuable information for their captive breeding and conservation. Reproductive information can also be applied to the development of Assisted Reproductive Techniques for this species; the utility of which in African wild dog conservation is also discussed.

show abstract

Section: Seasonality Of Reproductionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Section: Oestrous Cycle and Matingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Oestrous Cycle and Matingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Further Research In African Wild Dog Reproductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Reproduction in the endangered African wild dog: Basic physiology, reproductive suppression and possible benefits of artificial insemination

Berghe

Paris

Soom

et al. 2012

Animal Reproduction Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Contraception has frequently been used to prevent breeding in carnivores as a less drastic option but it is not without its difficulties (Boutelle & Bertschinger, 2010). Hormonal contraception is sometimes irreversible (Chuei et al, 2007) and progestinbased methods can have serious side-effects in carnivores, such as uterine and mammary tumours (Munson et al, 2005), although such side effects are rare in other taxa.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Editorial: Bears and Canids

Kitchener

Cheryl

2010

International Zoo Yearbook

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chemical contraceptive impacts on cyclic progesterone and sexual behavior in zoo‐housed Western lowland gorillas

LeFauve

Margulis

2022

American J Primatol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For regularly cycling primates in captivity, chemical contraceptives can be used to reduce the likelihood of unintentional offspring, but the effects on cyclic progesterone and sexual behavior have not been well studied in gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). As zoos are invested in maintaining naturalistic behaviors and physiology, this is an important aspect of gorilla physical and mental health. We examined how exposure to combination and progestin-only oral birth control pills altered cyclic progesterone and timing of sexual behaviors in four female gorillas at four institutions compared to cycling controls. Hormonal data were collected using fecal steroid metabolites as detected by enzyme immunoassay. Behavioral data were collected via one-zero sampling done by keeper staff. All methods of oral contraceptive eliminated the ovarian cycle, with fecal progestogens being maintained below baselines in cycling control individuals. There was also no evidence of any cyclic patterning in endogenous progesterone, suggesting that the methods tested do not allow for detection of a recovery of endogenous progesterone during a short no-pill period. We also found that the oral contraceptives altered the timing of behavioral displays when compared to cycling control individuals but was not directly related to any fluctuations in endogenous progesterone. This study reveals a need for additional research on contraceptive use in gorillas and reinforces that sexual behavior in gorillas is both hormonally and socially mediated.

show abstract

Reproductive management in captive and wild canids: contraception challenges

Abstract: Managing reproduction for

Cited by 15 publications

References 16 publications

Reproduction in the endangered African wild dog: Basic physiology, reproductive suppression and possible benefits of artificial insemination

Reproduction in the endangered African wild dog: Basic physiology, reproductive suppression and possible benefits of artificial insemination

Editorial: Bears and Canids

Chemical contraceptive impacts on cyclic progesterone and sexual behavior in zoo‐housed Western lowland gorillas

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About