scholarly journals Non-Invasive Reproductive Hormone Monitoring in Endangered Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania)

Author(s):  
Vinod Kumar ◽  
Shyamalima Buragohain ◽  
Parag Jyoti Deka ◽  
Goutam Narayan ◽  
Govindhaswamy Umapathy

The Pygmy hog (Porcula Salvania), till recently, classified as a critically endangered suid, is facing the threat of extinction globally due to habitat degradation. Efforts are being made to protect the pygmy hogs from extinction and breed them in captivity under Pygmy Hog Conservation Pro-gramme (PHCP). However, very little information is available on the reproductive physiology of pygmy hogs. Therefore, the present study aimed to standardize enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for monitoring pregnancy and reproductive status using progesterone and testosterone metabolites. A total of 785 faecal samples were collected from five females and two males over a period of one year from PHCP Research and Breeding Centre, Guwahati, Assam. High-pressure liquid chro-matography (HPLC) analysis revealed the presence of immunoreactive progesterone and testos-terone metabolites in faeces. Mating was observed in all the five females and four of them gave birth successfully. We were able to detect pregnancy using faecal progesterone metabolites. Based on mating and parturition, the mean gestation period was estimated to be 153.25 days from four females. The breeding centre recorded 172 births between 1996 and 2000 and found strong sea-sonality in births and most of the births were between May and June. Faecal testosterone metabo-lites were significantly higher in the breeding season than the non-breeding season. This is the first study and will help in future breeding programs in other captive breeding centres and reproduc-tive monitoring of reintroduced populations.

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-765
Author(s):  
Mayra González-Félix ◽  
Martin Perez-Velazquez ◽  
Hugo Cañedo-Orihuela

Limbaugh?s damselfish, Chromis limbaughi Greenfield & Woods, 1980, is endemic to the Gulf of California, and one of the five most exploited species for the aquarium trade in this region. C. limbaughi is a gonochoristic, gregarious and territorial species without sexual dimorphism that inhabits rocky, sheltered areas. Development of captive breeding techniques for this species would not only ensure a continued supply of fish for the commercial trade, but perhaps more importantly, it would also alleviate fishing pressure and support stock enhancement. Thus, as a first step towards achieving these goals, in this work, we investigated some aspects of the reproductive biology of C. limbaughi. Seasonal fish samplings, with a total of eighty-nine fish caught in one year, were carried out at San Esteban Island, Gulf of California, Mexico. The reproductive season of C. limbaughi extends, at least, from May to September. A new maximum standard length of 10.5 cm is reported for this species. The estimated size at first sexual maturity was 7.90 cm for males and 7.59 cm for females. For both male and female gonads, the major constituent fatty acids were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. The water-quality conditions under which maturation of C. limbaughi took place were measured, and should prove useful for the management of broodstock in captivity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-26
Author(s):  
Puveanthan Nagappan Govendan ◽  
Zefanya Christiani ◽  
Michael Nadhor Nainggolan ◽  
Slamet Raharjo

Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is among the largest species of monitor lizards kept in captivity due to the elegancy and character of the species. Captive breeding projects of monitor lizards are not common among reptile keepers. A two years old female V. salvator was presented with complains of anorexic and distended abdomen. No record of copulation or egg deposition was noticed from the particular specimen. Radiography confirmed a post-ovulatory egg-stasis (POES) occurring in the coelomic cavity. Fluid therapy and husbandry improvement was indicated as treatments. Oviposition of the POES was noticed 4 days after treatment. Young monitors could be prone to have less quantity of eggs but larger in size


2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M. Wolfe ◽  
Helen Robertson ◽  
Roberta Bencini

A study of the mating behaviour of the dibbler, Parantechinus apicalis, was conducted at a captive-breeding colony at Perth Zoo. In total, 21 pairs of P. apicalis were observed. The oestrous cycles of the females were monitored, and the males and females were paired when the females were approaching oestrus. Direct observations were made of the pairs over a 2-h period 3–4 times a week for the duration of the breeding season (mid February to April). It was found that the mating behaviour of P. apicalis was similar to that of other dasyurids; in particular, sniffing, vocalisations, chasing and attempted mounting tended to increase in the days leading up to mating. No significant difference was found between successful pairs (i.e. those that did mate) and unsuccessful pairs (i.e. those that did not) in the number of interactions and the average distance between the pair.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nian Yang ◽  
Jennifer McLelland ◽  
David J. McLelland ◽  
Judy Clarke ◽  
Lucy Woolford ◽  
...  

AbstractPsittacid Adenovirus-2 (PsAdv-2) was identified in captive orange-bellied parrots (Neophema chrysogastor) during a multifactorial cluster of mortalities at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia, and an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia at the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment captive breeding facility, Taroona, Tasmania. This was the first time that an adenovirus had been identified in orange-bellied parrots and is the first report of PsAdv-2 in Australia. To investigate the status of PsAdv-2 in the captive population of orange-bellied parrots, 102 healthy birds from five breeding facilities were examined for the presence of PsAdv-2 DNA in droppings and/or cloacal swabs using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Additionally, eight birds released to the wild for the 2016 breeding season were similarly tested when they were recaptured prior to migration to be held in captivity for the winter. PsAdv-2 was identified in all breeding facilities as well as the birds recaptured from the wild. Prevalence of shedding ranged from 29.7 to 76.5%, demonstrating that PsAdv-2 is endemic in the captive population of orange-bellied parrots and that wild parrots may have been exposed to the virus. PsAdv-2 DNA was detected in both cloacal swabs and faeces of the orange-bellied parrots, but testing both samples from the same birds suggested that testing faeces would be more sensitive than cloacal swabs. PsAdv-2 was not found in other psittacine species housed in nearby aviaries at the Adelaide Zoo. The source of the infection in the orange-bellied parrots remains undetermined. In this study, PsAdv-2 prevalence of shedding was higher in adult birds as compared to birds less than one year old. Preliminary data also suggested a correlation between adenovirus shedding prevalence within the breeding collection and chick survival.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Muhammad Idnan ◽  
Arshad Javid ◽  
Muhammad Nadeem ◽  
Ali Hussain ◽  
Sajid Mansoor ◽  
...  

Background: Study of behavioral conformations play a significant role in ex-situ conservation of ungulates particularly of deer to propagate deer farming. Due to advancement in animal hunting techniques, captive breeding is the best solution to propagate animals for sports or other traditional & medicinal uses. Due to the lack of management methods, captive breeding programs have been used on trial and error basis for rearing of wild animals like Chinkara. Objectives: The present study was planned to investigate behavioral patterns in captivity to explore factors over reproductive success of the Chinkara and potential of this wild animal (Chinkara) for deer farming practices in Pakistan. Methodology: Present study was conducted on the behavior of Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) [wild-caught (WC)=20, captive-bred (CB)=10] for a period of one year from April 2013 to March 2014 at Captive breeding facilities for ungulates, Ravi campus Pattoki, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Pakistan. Results: The behavior of captive-born and wild-caught animals was observed by focal sampling pattern to frame conservation strategies for successful management practices for promotion of deer farming in Pakistan. Similar behavioral patterns were observed in both WC and CB animals but WC male Chinkara displayed a higher degree of agonistic interaction than of CB males. From these results it is predicted that there is no obvious immediate effect of captivity on behavioral configurations up to 10 generations in Chinkara. Conclusion: It is suggested that Chinkara is not suitable for domestication like Goat until further studies on ethology of Chinkara.


2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Narayan ◽  
Jean-Marc Hero

Physiological stress assessment is important for in-situ conservation and captive management of threatened wildlife. Leukocyte (white blood cell) evaluation, especially the neutrophil : lymphocyte (N : L) ratio, provides a logical representation of experimentally elevated corticosterone (stress hormone) in amphibians. Urinary corticosterone enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) is a rapid non-invasive tool for assessing stress responses in amphibians. To our knowledge, no one has explored the relationship between N : L ratio and urinary corticosterone in wild amphibians in a non-experimental way. This study provides a comparative assessment of relative leukocyte numbers, N : L ratios and urinary corticosterone responses of the endangered Fijian ground frog (Platymantis vitiana) during transportation and captivity. Adult frogs (n = 40) were collected from Viwa, Fiji Island for captive breeding. Frogs showed significant changes in leukocyte proportions during transportation and captivity. N : L ratios were higher 6 h after transportation and over 5 and 15 days in captivity. Urinary corticosterone responses of the frogs were also higher 6 h after transportation and after 5 and 15 days in captivity. All leukocyte proportions, N : L ratios and urinary corticosterone concentrations of the frogs returned near baseline levels after the frogs were kept in an environmentally enriched outdoor enclosure for over 25 days. These results highlight the value of leukocyte evaluation and urinary corticosterone EIAs as physiological tools for evaluating stress in amphibians.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 172470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie K. Courtney Jones ◽  
Adam J. Munn ◽  
Phillip G. Byrne

Captive breeding programmes are increasingly relied upon for threatened species management. Changes in morphology can occur in captivity, often with unknown consequences for reintroductions. Few studies have examined the morphological changes that occur in captive animals compared with wild animals. Further, the effect of multiple generations being maintained in captivity, and the potential effects of captivity on sexual dimorphism remain poorly understood. We compared external and internal morphology of captive and wild animals using house mouse ( Mus musculus ) as a model species. In addition, we looked at morphology across two captive generations, and compared morphology between sexes. We found no statistically significant differences in external morphology, but after one generation in captivity there was evidence for a shift in the internal morphology of captive-reared mice; captive-reared mice (two generations bred) had lighter combined kidney and spleen masses compared with wild-caught mice. Sexual dimorphism was maintained in captivity. Our findings demonstrate that captive breeding can alter internal morphology. Given that these morphological changes may impact organismal functioning and viability following release, further investigation is warranted. If the morphological change is shown to be maladaptive, these changes would have significant implications for captive-source populations that are used for reintroduction, including reduced survivorship.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (Suppl.1) ◽  
pp. 130-137
Author(s):  
R. Yordanova ◽  
S. Stanilova

Purpose - compare the phenotype and genotype correlation of cytolysin and gelatinase production in clinical isolates Enterococcus spp. Materials and methods - 100 Enterococcus strains collected over a period of one year from inpatients of two Bulgarian university hospitals, were tested for phenotype production of cytolysin and gelatinase. Multiplex PCR was performed to screen the presence of gelE and cylA virulence genes. Results – 17% of the enterococcal isolates demonstrated only cytolysin production phenotypically. Gelatinase activity was found in 21% of the isolates. Only E. faecalis showed combined phenotypic production of cytolysin plus gelatinase (21%). Forty-five percent of the tested enterococci were identified negative for both hemolysin and gelatinase activity. GelE was the most prevalent virulent gene (48% of the isolates). CylA gene was present alone only in four non-invasive E. faecalis isolates. Twenty-six percent of the isolates possessed both cylA and gelE genes and 21% did not harbor any of the virulence factors genotypically. Conclusion - our results prove that it is appropriate to perform both phenotypic and genotypic analysis of the enterococci virulence profile in parallel in order to better characterize the strains, which in turn may serve to develop more effective methods to limit the spread of infections caused by these microorganisms.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir N Patel ◽  
J. Stephen Jenkins ◽  
Christopher J White ◽  
Paul McMullan ◽  
J.P. Reilly ◽  
...  

Background : Symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis (VAS) has a five-year stroke risk of 30%–35%. Mortality associated with posterior circulation (PC) strokes is high, ranging from 20%–30%. Surgical revascularization is rarely performed due to high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular revascularization with stents offers a potential treatment option for these patients. Methods : One hundred nine patients (116 arteries, 70% male) underwent stent placement for extracranial (91%) and intracranial (9%) VAS from 1995–2006. Symptoms included vertigo (63%), visual changes (31%), syncope (11%), ataxia (7%), and drop attack (5%). Four patients had asymptomatic critical stenosis. Sixty-one patients (56%) had bilateral VAS, 74 patients (69%) had concomitant carotid disease, and 43 patients (39%) had a prior stroke. Procedural success was defined as residual stenosis of ≤ 20% without peri-procedural stroke or death. Clinical success was defined as procedural success with symptom resolution. Restenosis was defined as angiographic narrowing within the stent of ≥ 70% or > 50% with recurrent symptoms, or evidence of severe stenosis on non-invasive imaging (ultrasound, CT, or MR). Results : Procedural and clinical success was achieved in 108 (99.1%) and 95 (94.3%) patients, respectively. At one year, follow-up was obtained in 91 patients (83.5%), 6 patients (5.5%) had died, 5 patients (5.3%) experienced a PC stroke, and 47 patients (43.1%) underwent repeat angiography and/or non-invasive imaging. Eighty-seven of the 91 patients were initially symptomatic, 69 (79.3%) of which were symptom-free at one year. Three of those that had recurrent symptoms never achieved clinical success, 9 had developed restenosis, and 7 underwent successful re-intervention. At median follow-up of 31 months (lower and upper quartiles of 13.0 and 51.8 months), 72.5% were alive and 71.6% remained symptom-free. Conclusion : Our data demonstrates that stenting for VAS can be successfully performed in 99% of patients without peri-procedural stroke or death and is associated with durable symptom resolution in approximately 80% of patients at one year. In these high-risk patients, endovascular therapy for symptomatic VAS appears to be safe and effective at relieving symptoms.


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