Abstract
We developed and validated an enzyme immunoassay for immunoreactive pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (iPdG) in feces to monitor reproductive status in desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Fecal iPdG concentrations were strongly correlated (r = 0.71) with serum progesterone concentrations in paired fecal and blood samples collected from 34 free-ranging desert bighorn sheep. In bimonthly fecal samples collected from 12 captive ewes, fecal iPdG profiles were similar between desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and we selected a pregnancy detection cutoff value of iPdG ≥1.8 ng/mg feces. Fecal iPdG concentrations always exceeded this cutoff value when samples were collected from about day 60 of pregnancy to a few days before parturition, but values <1.8 ng/mg (false negatives) were common for samples collected during the first 60 days of gestation. Although we tested a small number of known pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, the accuracy of the assay was 100% when two samples, collected 2 wk apart, were evaluated for any given ewe. Based on these data, this direct enzyme immunoassay for fecal progesterone metabolites has promise as a diagnostic tool to monitor hormone excretion and pregnancy in a free-ranging ungulate species.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 67-74 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jan 1996 |
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Keywords
- Bighorn sheep
- Fecal steroids
- Immunoassay
- Pregnancy
- Progesterone
- Reproduction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
Pregnancy Detection in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) Using a Fecal-based Enzyme Immunoassay. / Borjesson, Dori L; Boyce, Walter M; Gardner, Ian; DeForge, James; Lasley, Bill.
In: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 32, No. 1, 01.1996, p. 67-74.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pregnancy Detection in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) Using a Fecal-based Enzyme Immunoassay
AU - Borjesson, Dori L
AU - Boyce, Walter M
AU - Gardner, Ian
AU - DeForge, James
AU - Lasley, Bill
PY - 1996/1
Y1 - 1996/1
N2 - We developed and validated an enzyme immunoassay for immunoreactive pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (iPdG) in feces to monitor reproductive status in desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Fecal iPdG concentrations were strongly correlated (r = 0.71) with serum progesterone concentrations in paired fecal and blood samples collected from 34 free-ranging desert bighorn sheep. In bimonthly fecal samples collected from 12 captive ewes, fecal iPdG profiles were similar between desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and we selected a pregnancy detection cutoff value of iPdG ≥1.8 ng/mg feces. Fecal iPdG concentrations always exceeded this cutoff value when samples were collected from about day 60 of pregnancy to a few days before parturition, but values <1.8 ng/mg (false negatives) were common for samples collected during the first 60 days of gestation. Although we tested a small number of known pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, the accuracy of the assay was 100% when two samples, collected 2 wk apart, were evaluated for any given ewe. Based on these data, this direct enzyme immunoassay for fecal progesterone metabolites has promise as a diagnostic tool to monitor hormone excretion and pregnancy in a free-ranging ungulate species.
AB - We developed and validated an enzyme immunoassay for immunoreactive pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (iPdG) in feces to monitor reproductive status in desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Fecal iPdG concentrations were strongly correlated (r = 0.71) with serum progesterone concentrations in paired fecal and blood samples collected from 34 free-ranging desert bighorn sheep. In bimonthly fecal samples collected from 12 captive ewes, fecal iPdG profiles were similar between desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and we selected a pregnancy detection cutoff value of iPdG ≥1.8 ng/mg feces. Fecal iPdG concentrations always exceeded this cutoff value when samples were collected from about day 60 of pregnancy to a few days before parturition, but values <1.8 ng/mg (false negatives) were common for samples collected during the first 60 days of gestation. Although we tested a small number of known pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, the accuracy of the assay was 100% when two samples, collected 2 wk apart, were evaluated for any given ewe. Based on these data, this direct enzyme immunoassay for fecal progesterone metabolites has promise as a diagnostic tool to monitor hormone excretion and pregnancy in a free-ranging ungulate species.
KW - Bighorn sheep
KW - Fecal steroids
KW - Immunoassay
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Progesterone
KW - Reproduction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029687789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029687789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 8627939
AN - SCOPUS:0029687789
VL - 32
SP - 67
EP - 74
JO - Journal of Wildlife Diseases
JF - Journal of Wildlife Diseases
SN - 0090-3558
IS - 1
ER -