Comparative effects of GnRH and porcine zona pellucida (PZP) immunocontraceptive vaccines for controlling reproduction in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
Fawning rates and mating behaviour were compared between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) treated with GnRH and porcine zona pellucida (PZP) immunocontraceptive vaccines from 1997 to 2000. Female deer from a herd of 102 deer at Seneca Army Depot, near Romulus, New York, were treated with prime and booster injections of PZP (n = 22) or GnRH vaccine (n = 32), or remained untreated as controls (n = 34). During the summers after booster treatment, observed fawning rates for adult female deer were similar for both PZP-treated (0.10-0.11 fawns per female) and GnRH-treated (0.13-0.22 fawns per female) female deer, and were significantly lower (t = -8.93 and t = -9.73; P < or = 0.0005, respectively) than those observed for control female deer (1.22-1.38 fawns per female). During the second (0.36 fawns per female) and third summers (0.61 fawns per female) after the last booster injection, GnRH-treated female deer still produced significantly fewer fawns than did the controls (1.38 and 1.31 fawns per female, respectively). In one breeding season after treatment, five of 18 (28%) females vaccinated with PZP produced fawns, similar to the rate for GnRH-treated females (29%). In addition, females treated with GnRH had fewer oestrous cycles per female (0.06, P < or = 0.05) than did either control (0.22 cycles per female) or PZP-treated deer (0.36 cycles per female). Initial PZP treatment followed by a booster dose 5-7 months later reduced fawn production and prolonged the breeding season as females repeatedly returned to oestrus, similar to results reported in other studies.
Curtis
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PD
Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. pdc1@cornell.edu
Pooler
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RL
Richmond
M E
ME
Miller
L A
LA
Mattfeld
G F
GF
Quimby
F W
FW
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003670:Deer; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D009518:New York; D011155:Population Control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013552:Swine; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
D000941:Antigens; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone