IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Jewgenow, K.; Braun, B.C.; G”ritz, F.; Voigt, C.C.; Martˇnez, F.; Anaya, L.; Vargas, A.; Dehnhard, M. | |
| Pregnancy diagnosis in Iberian lynx (_Lynx pardinus_) based on urinary and blood plasma hormones | |
| 2009 Book Chapter | |
The Iberian lynx _Ex situ_ Conservation Programme is an essential part of a coordinated Action Plan to conserve this endangered felid. Successful Captive Breeding demands reliable methods for monitoring reproduction, including reliable non-invasive pregnancy diagnosis. During a three year study, urine samples from six captive Iberian lynx females were obtained (1 non-pregnant, 1 pseudo-pregnant and 11 pregnant cycles). Progesterone and estradiol were determined in urinary extracts and relevant urinary estrogen metabolites were characterized by HPLC. Additionally, the Witness© Relaxin test was used to determine relaxin in urine samples and blood plasma collected by blood suckling bugs. Urinary progesterone did not follow the typical pregnancy-related course of felids. In the Iberian lynx we failed to demonstrate a progesterone elevation during pregnancy. In contrast, urinary estrogens increase from 3.8 ń 0.6 to 8.6 ń 0.5 ng/mg creatinine (P<0.001) throughout the gestation period. A comparison of pseudo-pregnant with pregnant cycles revealed a further increase of estrogens caused by implantation (P<0.05). In one female that failed to mate, no difference was detected between estrogen levels during breeding and non-breeding season. Although the Witness© Relaxin test was positive in plasma samples collected from animals between days 32-56 of pregnancy, it failed to detect relaxin in urine samples collected from the same stage of pregnancy. A weak relaxin reaction in urine samples collected from animals between days 29-46 of pregnancy was detectable after urines were concentrated by ultrafiltration (>50 x). Concentrated samples obtained from non-pregnant and early pregnant animals yielded negative test results. In conclusion, urinary estrogens and the Witness© Relaxin test can be applied for pregnancy diagnosis in the Iberian lynx. For estrogens, serial sampling is necessary, so we recommend relaxin as the hormone of choice to detect pregnancy in the Iberian lynx, since a single positive signal already indicates the presence of a placenta and, thus, an ongoing gestation. A negative relaxin test, however, must be judged carefully because hormone levels might be below the detection level. |
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