Theriogenology wild最新文献

{"title":"When to cryopreserve and when to let it go? A systematic review of priorities in wild animal cryobanking","authors":"James Edward Brereton ,&nbsp;Sarah Louise Spooner ,&nbsp;Susan L. Walker ,&nbsp;Andrew Mooney ,&nbsp;Philippe Wilson ,&nbsp;Gabriela F. Mastromonaco ,&nbsp;Elena Hunter ,&nbsp;Samuel White","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With increasing numbers of species threatened with extinction, collecting and conserving living samples is important for the long-term conservation of animal populations. Globally, many cryobanks have been developed to preserve animal tissues for future use in wildlife conservation. However, to date, there has been no attempt to review the purpose, priorities and direction of these cryobanks. A systematic review was undertaken using Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to determine the most common priorities identified in the cryobanking literature. The types of species being recommended for cryobanking, cell types, and recommended numbers of samples and number of individuals were also recorded for cryobanking efforts. Overall, 13,287 papers were identified, of which 794 were selected for full-text review. For wildlife, the most frequently cited priority was to select based on threat level, with convenience sampling and genetic diversity featuring as the second and third most common priorities. In terms of cell type, sperm featured most frequently in cryobanking literature, potentially due to its ease of use in animal breeding programmes. Somatic cells and stem cells featured more commonly in more recently published literature. Looking ahead, cryobanks should consider their priorities and records to ensure they are collecting samples with a meaningful use for future conservation efforts. Greater collaboration between cryobanks can aid in important sample acquisition and storage and in sharing cryopreservation priorities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143176024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osmotic tolerance and cryopreservation of Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) sperm","authors":"Elisha Xiao-Kim ,&nbsp;James K. Graham ,&nbsp;Tony Schountz ,&nbsp;Jennifer P. Barfield","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assisted reproductive technologies will become increasingly important to preserve bat genetics to prevent the extinction of bat species and provide biomedical models for viral and disease research. However, little is known regarding the ability to preserve bat genetics, including sperm. These experiments were conducted to determine some of the physiological properties of sperm from the Jamaican fruit bat (<em>Artibeus Jamaican’s</em>), and develop a protocol to effectively cryopreserve these sperm. Experiments were conducted to determine the osmotic tolerance of bat sperm, using flow cytometry, to determine how well bat sperm can withstand the osmotic challenges they must endure during the cryopreservation process. Additional experiments tested various cryoprotectants to determine which cryoprotectant preserved sperm most efficiently; and finally, if cryopreserved sperm maintained functionality by binding to the perivitelline membrane. Jamaican fruit bat sperm exhibit a wide osmotic tolerance; greater than 50 % of the sperm survive when exposed to very low (0 mOsm) or very high (1.2 M) osmolalities. In addition, the sperm are not sensitive to cold-shock damage, and can be cooled from room temperature to 5 ºC very quickly while retaining viability. Finally, preserving the cells, using a combination of glycerol and either methyl formamide (MF) or dimethyl formamide (DMF) as the cryoprotectant, resulted in higher percentages of motile sperm (54 %) than sperm frozen in glycerol alone (35 %; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Interestingly, the percentages of sperm with intact membranes following cryopreservation were similar for all cryoprotectant treatments (58–67 %; <em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). Our ability to test sperm functionality after cryopreservation was limited to testing the sperm’s ability to bind the perivitelline membrane, in which higher numbers of sperm cryopreserved with glycerol + MF bound to the membrane (19.6 ± 5.5) than sperm cryopreserved in glycerol alone (12.0 ± 5.2; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, Jamaican fruit bat sperm can effectively withstand membrane damage caused by osmotic issues and cold shock. In addition, bat sperm cryopreserved with a combination of glycerol and amides maintain higher percentages of motile cells, than sperm cryopreserved in glycerol alone; and cryopreserved sperm maintained their ability to bind to the perivitelline membrane.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143176025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The epididymal microenvironment in Akodon cursor (Muridae, Sigmodontinae, Akodontini): The lifetime of spermatozoa from production to maturation","authors":"Tatiana Prata Menezes ,&nbsp;Fernanda Carolina Ribeiro Dias ,&nbsp;Nara Clara Lazaroni e Merchid ,&nbsp;Camila Folly Batista ,&nbsp;Camilo Jose Ramirez-Lopez ,&nbsp;Arabela Guedes de Azevedo Viana ,&nbsp;Renner Philipe Rodrigues Carvalho ,&nbsp;Adrielli Ribeiro Araújo ,&nbsp;José Lino-Neto ,&nbsp;Gisele Lessa ,&nbsp;Arlindo A. Moura ,&nbsp;Mariana Machado-Neves","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sperm fertility in mammals depends on the complexity of several physiological events. The male gamete is produced in the testis and matured in the epididymis, which requires an adequate environment for sperm maturation and survival. This study focused on characterizing the sperm morphology of the small wild rodent <em>Akodon cursor</em> and describing the epididymal environment supporting sperm maturation. Eight <em>A. cursor</em> males were captured from a preserved area of the Atlantic Forest in Viçosa (MG, Brazil). The epididymides were processed for histological, functional, and proteomic analyses, besides sperm quality evaluation. Data were submitted to ANOVA and the <em>post hoc</em> Tukey's test (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). The length of <em>A. cursor</em> sperm was 52.71 ± 0.79 μm (mean ± SD), with 5.12 ± 0.07 μm corresponding to the nucleus. Sperm motility and vigor were 45.6 % ± 2.9 and 2.9 ± 0.2, respectively. The duration of sperm transit time in the epididymis was 2.75 ± 0.22 days. Histomorphometrically, the distal cauda had the highest tubular and luminal diameter, whereas the epithelial height was higher in the initial segment than in the other regions. Proteomic analysis identified 56 proteins in the proximal epididymal regions of <em>A. cursor</em> related to crucial processes, including cellular homeostasis, flagellar elongation, and the elimination of defective sperm during epididymal transit. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sperm maturation in this species. In conclusion, the epididymis of <em>A. cursor</em> shares similarities with other rodent species but exhibits unique characteristics, such as shorter sperm transit time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143288566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Filial cannibalism in rainbow boas (Epicrates cenchria and E. assisi)","authors":"Gabriela Ramos ,&nbsp;Tiago de Oliveira Lima ,&nbsp;Selma Maria de Almeida-Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cannibalism, or intraspecific predation, refers to the practice in which an individual completely or partially consumes another conspecific. Filial cannibalism occurs when parents consume their own offspring, whether they are alive or stillborn. This study describes filial cannibalism behavior in just one female of each species, Amazon rainbow boa (<em>Epicrates cenchria</em>) and the Caatinga rainbow boa (<em>E. assisi</em>). We observed that female <em>E. cenchria</em> and <em>E. assisi</em> only consumed atretic eggs. A female <em>E. cenchria</em> consumed two out of the eight atretic eggs she delivered, while sparing the four neonates and the only stillborn fetus in her litter. A female <em>E. assisi</em> consumed two out of the four atretic eggs and attempted to ingest the amniotic sacs and liquid yolk throughout the entire observation, sparing two neonates. This is the first documented record of such behavior in <em>E. assisi</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000424/pdfft?md5=5f528d944d43a3e2089b8f3914184648&pid=1-s2.0-S2773093X24000424-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142241874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Progesterone monitoring and gestation length in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis)","authors":"Rodrigo S. Amaral ,&nbsp;Vera M.F. da Silva ,&nbsp;José Anselmo d’Affonsêca Neto","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Knowledge of pregnancy length and the physiological parameters during pregnancy is an important tool for pregnancy diagnosis in free-ranging and captive individuals and for the correct husbandry of captive pregnant females. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the progesterone pattern during pregnancy in <em>T</em>. <em>inunguis</em> and to estimate the pregnancy length in this species. Blood or urine samples from a total of eight pregnancies were collected from six captive female Amazonian manatees. Serum progesterone and urinary progesterone metabolites were measured by radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. The mean of serum progesterone throughout pregnancy was 5.17 ± 4.71 ng/ml (0.08–19.71 ng/ml) and the mean urinary progesterone metabolites concentration was 11.34 ± 12.28 ng/mg Cr (1.00 – 54.71 ng/mg Cr). A pregnancy length of approximately 12–13 months was observed (369.6 ± 27.2 days, range 352–401 days). The pregnancy length observed in this study falls within the range reported for other sirenians. During the first four months, there was a high level of progesterone. After that, the hormone levels began to decrease. Low progesterone levels during most of pregnancy were also observed in other sirenians. This hormonal pattern suggests the existence of the paracrine action of progesterone or the role of other hormones in the maintenance of pregnancy. However, further studies are necessary to clarify the pregnancy endocrinology in Amazonian manatees.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100081"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000126/pdfft?md5=9d7ded6f9b7d188e0f9f2e8f72769659&pid=1-s2.0-S2773093X24000126-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140180477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age","authors":"Imke Lueders ,&nbsp;Johanna Reuken ,&nbsp;Ilse Luther ,&nbsp;Gerhard van der Horst ,&nbsp;Antoinette Kotze ,&nbsp;Adrian Tordiffe ,&nbsp;Harald Sieme ,&nbsp;Ulrike Jakop ,&nbsp;Karin Mueller","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100093","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sexual maturity and body condition are interconnected in many mammals. For non-domestic felids held in human care, the effect of body condition on male fertility has not been studied, although obesity is a recognized problem for many species such as the African lion <em>(Panthera leo</em>) under captive conditions.</p><p>Here, we assessed body weight, body condition via body condition score (BCS), reproductive organ appearance and size by ultrasonography and semen parameters as a function of age in a large population of captive male lions housed in different facilities in South Africa. Of 59 individuals (age range 2.5–10 years), we rated 21 (36 %) of the males (≥ 4 years) as highly obese (BCS 8–9). Semen collection via urethral catheter was successful in 49 males (83.0 %). Sperm were found in 44 males (74.6 %) across all age groups. Sperm motility and detailed sperm morphology was assessed in 42 and 18 lions, respectively.</p><p>As expected, body weight and reproductive organ size increased with age, but only the testis size increased in proportion to BCS. Although our data are unbalanced, as older animals (already after five years of age) were more often obese, they suggest an optimum age and body condition for potential fertility with adequate physical maturity in male lions. Physical maturity appeared to be reached between the ages of three and five years, which is later than sexual maturity in male lions.</p><p>Lions that far exceeded the normal body weight range and had a BCS of 8 or 9 had lower semen quantity and quality. Therefore, male lions in captivity are in prime breeding condition when physical maturity is combined with a BCS &lt; 8.</p><p>Our data contribute towards interpretation of fertility assessments in managed breeding programs for lions. Ultrasonographic appearance of the reproductive organs, BCS and semen parameters can help to identify and select breeding males.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100093"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000242/pdfft?md5=3c043ccc55e740420bcb5cad96e098d6&pid=1-s2.0-S2773093X24000242-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141298135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacological induction of parturition in pacarana (Dinomys branickii)","authors":"Letícia Alecho Requena ,&nbsp;Gediendson Ribeiro de Araújo ,&nbsp;Felipe Azzolini ,&nbsp;Moacir Franco de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Thyara de Deco-Souza ,&nbsp;Anah Tereza de Almeida Jácomo ,&nbsp;Leandro Silveira ,&nbsp;Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto ,&nbsp;Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100076","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100076","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This case report discusses the pharmacological induction of parturition in a pacarana (<em>Dinomys branickii</em>), a rare South American rodent with a reproductive biology that is still poorly understood. The aim of this case report was to induce labor in a pacarana in the final third of gestation after fetal death was confirmed due to a maternal cardiopulmonary arrest lasting 4 min. Using a pharmacological protocol similar to that applied in ruminants, the induction of labor was successfully carried out, resulting in the expulsion of two dead fetuses 2 h and 15 min after the administration of cloprostenol (0.275 mg; im) and dexamethasone (4 mg; im). This case, the first documented instance of pharmacological induction in pacarana, underscores the efficacy of the procedure and the need for further research to understand the reproductive physiology of the species, potentially aiding in the conservation of this and other Hystricomorpha species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100076"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000072/pdfft?md5=bf21e32285e7d64a7f4cceb69ed68095&pid=1-s2.0-S2773093X24000072-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139815065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring and exploring variations of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in female fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)","authors":"Sittat Chumsri ,&nbsp;Itti Boonorrana ,&nbsp;Junpen Suwimonteerabutr ,&nbsp;Wanlaya Tipkantha ,&nbsp;Ampika Thongphakdee ,&nbsp;Pierre Comizzoli ,&nbsp;Kaywalee Chatdarong","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Serum concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a way to estimate the ovarian reserve in many species including domestic cats. It could therefore become an important indicator to manage breeding of wild cat species in captivity. This study focused on 1) validating the AMH Gen II ELISA test, and 2) exploring the relationship between serum AMH with age and estrus stages in fishing cats (<em>Prionailurus viverrinus</em>) and leopard cats (<em>Prionailurus bengalensis</em>). Blood samples were collected from 11 female fishing cats (5.7 ± 3.2 years old) and 8 female leopard cats (8.1 ± 1.8 years old) subjected to routine annual health check in zoo facilities. The stage of the estrus cycle was estimated from animal history, abdominal sonography and vaginal cytology. Serum AMH was measured by AMH Gen II ELISA. Intra-assay CV and inter-assay CV were 4.11 % and 5.52 %, respectively. Validation of the AMH Gen II ELISA by the linearity of sample dilution in fishing cats and leopard cats was confirmed. In fishing cats, r² equalled 0.998 and percentage recovery was 83–101 %. In leopard cats, r² equalled 0.999 and percentage recovery was 96–104 %. Serum AMH concentration ranged from 0.17 to 30.53 ng/mL (averaged 14.88 ± 10.03 ng/mL) in fishing cats and 1.25 to 13.52 ng/mL (averaged 6.25 ± 4.69 ng/mL) in leopard cats. There was no significant relationship between serum AMH concentration and age in both fishing cats (r = − 0.556, <em>P</em> = 0.075) and leopard cats (r = 0.010, <em>P</em> = 0.982). Likewise, there was no difference in AMH concentrations between estrus stage and other stages in both fishing cats (<em>P</em> = 0.069) and leopard cats (<em>P</em> = 0.599). In conclusion, because the limited sample size and the lack of precise information on the estrus phase, the AMH Gen II ELISA shows promising potential for detecting concentrations that may be correlated with age, estrus cycle, and ovarian reserve in future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive health assessments in female polar bears: Anatomy, pathology, and diagnostic techniques","authors":"Erin Curry,&nbsp;Julie Barnes,&nbsp;Elizabeth Donelan,&nbsp;Jessye Wojtusik ,&nbsp;Victoria Kennedy,&nbsp;Emily E. Virgin,&nbsp;Megan Philpott,&nbsp;Terri L. Roth","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100105","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100105","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The reproductive success of polar bears (<em>Ursus maritimus</em>) in U.S. zoos is poor and the underlying causes of reproductive failure remain elusive. It is evident that new methodologies for evaluating fertility are needed, along with baseline information about species-specific reproductive anatomy and physiology. Between 2012 and 2024, 25 examinations of 17 female polar bears were conducted opportunistically, and included vulvar measurements, vaginal cytology, vaginoscopy, hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy, and/or ultrasonography. Additionally, reproductive tracts (n = 10) harvested post-mortem were examined shortly after collection, allowing for inspection of anatomy <em>ex vivo</em>. The outcomes of these activities yielded detailed measurements and descriptions of reproductive anatomy. Vaginal cytology patterns demonstrated shifts in vaginal epithelial cell type associated with estrus and vaginoscopy enabled systematic evaluation of internal reproductive structures, including the vestibule, vestibulo-vaginal junction, urethral os, vaginal canal, and cervix. Hysteroscopy allowed visualization of the uterine endometrium and facilitated endometrial biopsy collection. Additionally, ultrasonography was utilized to identify ovaries in several bears, offering insights into ovarian dynamics and follicular development. Several abnormalities were noted during examinations of both <em>in vivo</em> and <em>ex vivo</em> tracts; these included clitoral hypertrophy, vaginal strictures, uterine polyps, endometritis, and cystic hyperplasia, although it is unclear if these aberrations significantly impacted fertility. Findings contribute to a better understanding of polar bear reproductive anatomy, highlight the utility of diagnostic techniques for monitoring reproduction, and elucidate potential causes of reproductive failure in polar bears.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100105"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000369/pdfft?md5=161ddb3016568070815be217fcfc2f76&pid=1-s2.0-S2773093X24000369-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141949782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Semen collection and characterization of normative reproductive traits in free-ranging ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) in southern Texas","authors":"Ashley M. Reeves ,&nbsp;William F. Swanson ,&nbsp;Clayton D. Hilton ,&nbsp;Tyler A. Campbell ,&nbsp;Landon Schofield ,&nbsp;Michael E. Tewes ,&nbsp;Hilary M. Swarts ,&nbsp;Amy Miller ,&nbsp;Cary Springer ,&nbsp;Debra L. Miller","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2024.100107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Decreased genetic diversity and possible inbreeding depression have recently been documented in the last wild ocelot (<em>Leopardus pardalis</em>) population in the United States. One consequence of inbreeding depression in felids may be reduced semen quality which can adversely affect reproductive potential. Detailed assessments of reproductive parameters in wild individuals and populations can be conducted using assisted reproductive technologies, such as semen collection and analysis. For most felid species, semen has traditionally been collected via electroejaculation (EEJ<span><span>²</span></span>); however, an alternative method has been developed using alpha-2 agonist drugs to induce direct sperm release into the urethra, allowing collection by catheterization without requiring specialized equipment. The goal of this study was to characterize normative reproductive traits in free-ranging ocelots and co-occurring bobcats (<em>Lynx rufus</em>) in southern Texas and assess the effectiveness of urethral catheterization (UC<span><span>³</span></span>) for semen recovery in both species. For semen collection, free-ranging cats were live-captured and anesthetized using intramuscular ketamine and medetomidine/dexmedetomidine (alpha-2 agonist) with UC conducted 20–40 minutes post-induction. In ocelots only, EEJ was subsequently performed if UC failed to recover a viable sample. Semen collection was attempted in 31 felids (n=9 ocelots; n=22 bobcats), with sperm recovery by UC in seven of nine ocelots (78 %) and 14 of 22 bobcats (66 %), and by EEJ in four of five ocelots (80 %). For ocelots, the percentage of primary morphologic abnormalities was higher (p&lt;0.001) for UC (47.75 ± 6.7; mean ± SEM) compared to EEJ (9 ± 2.7) but percent normal morphology (MORPH) did not differ between UC and EEJ (p=0.218). In wild ocelots, seminal parameters appeared lower relative to historical values reported for zoo-managed ocelots, possibly related to reduced heterozygosity. In wild bobcats, seminal traits were inferior to those of ocelots but similar to reports for other zoo-managed <em>Lynx</em> species. In conclusion, detailed male reproductive traits have been characterized for the first time in wild, free-ranging ocelots and bobcats in southern Texas. Although UC allowed semen recovery for assessment of seminal traits in both species, EEJ produced higher quality samples in ocelots when applied after UC while also mitigating the adverse impact of urine contamination observed frequently with both collection methods.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100107"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000382/pdfft?md5=4b9c4b85d585cf1c42bedc153e70d286&pid=1-s2.0-S2773093X24000382-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142117685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}