title: Non-Invasive Pregnancy Diagnosis in Big Cats using the PGFM (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α) Assay.
abstract: Non-invasive monitoring of hormones using feces has become a vital tool for reproductive management and reliable pregnancy diagnosis in big cats. Previous studies described the PGF2α metabolite (PGFM) as an indicator of pregnancy in various feline species. The present study aimed to standardize pregnancy detection in big cats like the tiger (Panthera tigris), jaguar (Panthera onca) and lion (Panthera leo) using fecal samples. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) were performed to identify PGFM in feces. An EIA developed against 9α,11α-dihydroxy-15-oxo-prost-5-en-1-oic acid-BSA was used to assay PGFM in fecal samples of the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion and jaguar. The PGFM levels increased after 9 weeks of pregnancy and remained elevated until parturition. All animals showed elevated levels of PGFM in the last trimester of pregnancy, thus making PGFM a reliable tool for pregnancy diagnosis during this period that can be useful in captive breeding programs in these species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (IZW), 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehnhard
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
authors.forename: Mithileshwari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandrasekhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (IZW), 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jewgenow
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
authors.forename: Govindhaswamy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Umapathy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D046009:Panthera / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal
chemical_list: C008228:15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost