Theriogenology wild最新文献

{"title":"Preliminary investigation: Down-regulation of testosterone by an anti-GnRH immunotherapeutic (Improvest®) in a Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) Bull","authors":"Elizabeth E. Hammond ,&nbsp;Linda M. Penfold ,&nbsp;Lara C. Metrione","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability to maintain bull white rhinoceros (<em>Ceratotherium simum simum</em>) in breeding groups while preventing unwanted reproduction could be beneficial for bull wellbeing compared to solitary housing. To date, no contraception has been investigated for male rhinoceros species, but anti-GnRH immunotherapeutics have been used in female white and greater one-horned rhinoceros, as well as other wildlife species, to reduce reproductive steroid hormone concentrations. This study investigated the efficacy of Improvest® in down-regulating testosterone concentrations in a genetically well-represented bull white rhinoceros. Improvest® (0.6 mg; Distributed by Zoetis, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI 49007) was administered in the left triceps muscle, followed by boosters at 4, 12, 26, 42, 51, and 67 weeks. Serum testosterone was measured by enzyme immunoassay in blood samples collected voluntarily approximately weekly before and during the initial treatment, then monthly for long-term monitoring. No adverse effects from Improvest® were observed with the exception of mild swelling at the injection site. A five-fold decrease in testosterone concentrations was measured within the fourth week after the second dose, 8 weeks following initial treatment, and basal concentrations (17.3 ± 1.1 ng/mL) were maintained until a break-through increase in concentrations occurred 16 weeks after a booster injection. This case study demonstrates that testosterone concentrations can be suppressed in white rhinoceros bulls treated with Improvest®. These findings suggest anti-GnRH immunotherapeutics could be promising tools for bull rhinoceros management, and further studies of consistency in responsiveness, effects on behavior and fertility, and reversibility are merited.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of extended cold storage and the use of extenders on motility and swimming kinematics of shortnose sturgeon sperm","authors":"Kenzie H. Melanson ,&nbsp;Matthew K. Litvak","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shortnose sturgeon (<em>Acipenser brevirostrum</em>) are listed as a species of special concern in Canada and as endangered in the US. Increasing knowledge about the reproductive biology of this species will aid in the development of assisted reproduction protocols. However, access to wild sperm is limited, so short-term and long-term storage of sperm from sturgeon is crucial for reproductive studies. Milt samples were collected from wild shortnose sturgeon caught in the Wolastoq River, New Brunswick, Canada. Subsets of semen were mixed with different extenders with or without oxygen; control treatments without extenders were also run. We used computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) to determine sperm motility and swimming kinematics for the different treatments. All groups were examined immediately after collection and treatment application, and then 1, 2, and 7 days after storage in a fridge (4 °C) for experiment 1, and days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, and 24 for experiment 2. Motility, curvilinear velocity, linearity, and wobble showed an overall decrease over time, and there was no significant effect of oxygen. Milt treated with the Park and Chapman extender had the slowest motility decline of extenders used (41.21 % in 2022 and 47.09 % in 2023) after 7 days, but only maintained motility up to day 10. While untreated milt maintained some motility up to day 21, milt treated with the modified Tsvetkova extender remained motile for up to 24 days (&lt; 5 %), and had less potential for contamination, making the modified Tsvetkova extender the most practical extender choice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Medical management of metritis secondary to retained fetal membranes in a linne’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus): A case study","authors":"Monica Lee ,&nbsp;Jessica Y. Heinz ,&nbsp;Jennifer Nollman ,&nbsp;Michael R. Wenninger ,&nbsp;Julie L. Barnes","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An 11-year-old multiparous female Linne’s two-toed sloth (<em>Choloepus didactylus</em>) became lethargic and hyporexic eight days after an uncomplicated delivery of a single healthy offspring. She was treated with intramuscular (IM) injections of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (6.2 mg/kg) and meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg). The next day, the female was immobilized for examination, including transvaginal hysteroscopy, which revealed a marked amount of purulent vaginal and uterine fluid, as well as suspected retained fetal membranes. Treatment included uterine saline lavage and antibiotic infusion (ceftiofur sodium, 1 g), intravenous (IV) enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg for two days), oral broad-spectrum antibiotics (enrofloxacin, 10 mg/kg once daily for ten days and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 14 mg/kg twice daily for fourteen days), misoprostol (9.5 µg/kg orally once daily for six days), oxytocin (0.15 IU/kg IM once daily for five days), and supportive care. Culture from the uterine lavage revealed <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em> (3 +), <em>Bacteroides</em> sp. (3 +), and <em>Peptostreptococcus</em> sp. (2 +). Due to difficulty with oral administration, antibiotics were switched to penicillin G procaine (40,000 IU/kg IM) for an additional seventeen days. Four weeks post-initial exam, recheck hysteroscopy revealed moderate white mucoid discharge and adherent placental tissue. Repeat uterine lavage cultured <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. (1 +) and <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em> (1 +); supportive care was continued for eight additional days. Eight weeks after initial presentation, the patient was asymptomatic and considered clinically recovered. This report represents the first documentation of medically managed retained fetal membranes and secondary metritis in a Linne’s two-toed sloth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100154"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147600100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro embryo production in the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) using oocytes recovered post-mortem and cryopreserved spermatozoa","authors":"Andrea Priego-González ,&nbsp;Ana Munoz-Maceda ,&nbsp;Raquel González ,&nbsp;Juan Antonio Rielo ,&nbsp;Natalia Gañán ,&nbsp;Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez ,&nbsp;Pilar Villar-Moya ,&nbsp;Ana Cantos Rubert ,&nbsp;María Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig ,&nbsp;Eduardo R.S. Roldan","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Iberian lynx (<em>Lynx pardinus</em>), once considered the most endangered felid in the world, has become a remarkable example of conservation success thanks to intensive <em>ex situ</em> and <em>in situ</em> management efforts. However, the long-term viability of the species remains under threat. The implementation of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) would contribute to ensure the species viability, but the use of ARTs is limited in this species and there are still important gaps in the knowledge of its physiology. Here, we report the first <em>in vitro</em> fertilization (IVF) and early embryo development in the Iberian lynx using oocytes retrieved post-mortem and cryopreserved spermatozoa. Oocytes from six females were subjected to <em>in vitro</em> maturation using two sets of conditions. In the first series, oocytes incubated <em>in vitro</em> for 24 h, exhibited a very low proportion (0–37 %) reaching metaphase II (MII). Attempted IVF with cryopreserved spermatozoa resulted in no fertilization. In a second series, oocytes were incubated <em>in vitro</em> for 28 h; grade I-II oocytes exhibited 40 % maturation rate (MII), whereas grade III oocytes showed 28 % maturation rate. Matured oocytes from one female were co-incubated with cryopreserved sperm for 18 h resulting in cleavage rates of 39.3 % (grade I–II) and 7.1 % (grade III) and the opportunity to vitrify one blastocyst and six morulae. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ARTs in this species, validating domestic cat protocols for Iberian lynx gametes, and providing a foundation for further refinement of IVF protocols, embryo cryopreservation, and ultimately, embryo transfer strategies for use in conservation programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145698085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monthly plasma oxytocin samples detect lactational but not social management or behavioral variation in ex situ black and white rhinoceroses","authors":"Drew M. Arbogast ,&nbsp;Elizabeth W. Freeman ,&nbsp;Elizabeth M. Donelan ,&nbsp;Marieke K. Jones ,&nbsp;Louisa A. Rispoli ,&nbsp;Terri L. Roth ,&nbsp;Lara C. Metrione","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin is essential for uterine contractions and lactation, facilitates reproductive and social behaviors, and may also regulate stress and psychological state. Plasma samples were collected monthly from black (<em>Diceros bicornis</em>; n = 19 males, 17 females) and white (<em>Ceratotherium simum</em>; n = 20 males, 40 females) rhinoceroses housed across 33 North American facilities. Focal animal behavioral observations were conducted twice, ∼6 months apart, for three to five days each time. Plasma oxytocin was extracted via proteomic reduction, alkylation, and precipitation methods. Successful analytical validation of the enzyme immunoassay consisted of a parallel displacement curve between serially diluted standards and pooled extracts, linearity across dilutions, and 96% recovery of spiked synthetic hormone. Monthly peripheral plasma oxytocin concentrations did not differ between black and white rhinoceroses but were positively associated with age in the former (<em>p</em> = 0.049). In lactating white rhinoceroses, oxytocin increased from 0 to 365 days postpartum (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), serving as a biological validation of the assay. There were no significant associations detected between oxytocin concentrations and other variables of interest: sex, pregnancy status, median group size, degree of social access, and rates of affiliative and agonistic behaviors (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.10). It is possible that more frequent sampling might better detect associations between oxytocin and transient social dynamics. This study provides the first data on oxytocin concentrations in black and white rhinoceroses and establishes a foundation for further investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100155"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From salvage to science: Overcoming initial challenges and developing an adaptively managed program for an endangered amphibian, the mountain-yellow legged frog (Rana muscosa)","authors":"Leah E. Jacobs ,&nbsp;Stephanie Chancellor ,&nbsp;Barbara Durrant ,&nbsp;Ronald R. Swaisgood ,&nbsp;Debra M. Shier ,&nbsp;Natalie E. Calatayud","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mountain yellow-legged frog (<em>Rana muscosa</em>) recovery program at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance emerged from crisis-driven salvage rather than a planned conservation framework, resulting in a genetically limited founder base and a long-term need for adaptive management. Over more than a decade, the ex-situ population functioned as an experimental system in which husbandry, genetic pairing strategies, and assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) were iteratively refined to overcome persistent reproductive challenges including mismatched timing to gamete release among males and females, low annual output in viable offspring, and a narrow breeding season. Understanding the factors that limit reproductive success is essential for sustaining ex situ populations of the endangered <em>R. muscosa</em>. We combined ten years of natural-breeding records with four years of assisted fertilization (AF) trials to identify where along the reproductive sequence line-specific constraints arise and to develop AF protocols to further evaluate whether AF and crossing of populations (admixture) can help overcome potential issues restricting natural breeding, such as behavior incompatibilities, and help elucidate factors reducing breeding success. Natural breeding revealed consistent differences at the earliest developmental stage: San Jacinto (SJ) pairs produced higher embryo-formation rates than San Bernardino (SB) pairs, whereas tadpole hatching success was similar once embryos cleaved. Embryo formation success increased over time with refinements to hormone timing, brumation, and environmental cueing, and shorter latency to oviposition was associated with improved outcomes. Despite these gains, SB-sired clutches remained consistently low in embryo formation. AF trials confirmed this pattern; SJ and early-generation admixed males produced the highest embryo formation, whereas SB males performed poorly across all combinations. SB females, however, reproduced successfully when paired with SJ males, indicating that reduced fertilization success in SB lines is primarily driven by male gamete traits rather than female physiology or behavioral mismatches. These findings support the strategic use of directional admixture to maintain SB genetic representation while improving overall reproductive output. Integrating natural-breeding data, AF outcomes, and cryobanking strategies will help sustain viable ex situ lines and support the recovery of <em>R. muscosa</em> in the wild. This case study demonstrates that incremental, data-guided improvements, rather than single breakthroughs, are essential for developing effective amphibian ARTs under genuine conservation conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147537571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of cryopreservation media on fertilization rate and post-thaw characteristics of tiger (Panthera tigris ssp.) spermatozoa","authors":"Shelley E.S. Sandmaier ,&nbsp;Jason R. Herrick","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a growing need for the development of assisted reproductive technologies to manage tiger populations under human care. Artificial insemination has been successful in tigers and other felid species but is ultimately reliant on the quality of the sperm sample. Cryobanking of tiger spermatozoa can aid in these efforts, but viability is reduced after thawing when compared to fresh samples. The current study tested new cryopreservation media with the goal of improving post-thaw viability and motility of tiger spermatozoa. Semen was collected by electroejaculation from 13 tigers and one or more treatments (TEST egg yolk buffer, soy, soy + glutamine, and soy + trehalose) were chosen for cryopreservation of each sample. Motility, acrosome integrity, and embryo development following heterologous in vitro fertilization (IVF) of domestic cat oocytes were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of each treatment. After thawing, none of the soy-based media improved upon these characteristics when compared to TEST egg yolk buffer. Despite low (average = 20 %) motility after thawing, all samples were capable of producing embryos via IVF. Results from this study indicate that both TEST and soy-based media can be used to cryopreserve tiger spermatozoa. However, there is still much room for improvement of sperm cryopreservation in this species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144489868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating alternatives to flow cytometry for sex-sorting rhinoceros sperm","authors":"Louisa A. Rispoli ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Donelan ,&nbsp;Parker M. Pennington ,&nbsp;Priscilla H. Joyner ,&nbsp;Terri L. Roth","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective sperm sex-sorting techniques could be beneficial for managing ex-situ rhinoceros populations. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) technology has shown promise but is limited by high cost, long sorting times, and poor compatibility with frozen sperm. This study evaluated two alternative methods for sex-sorting sperm from white (<em>Ceratotherium simum</em>; n = 5) and greater one-horned (<em>Rhinoceros unicornis</em>; n = 5) rhinoceroses. Thirteen ejaculates (five fresh and eight cryopreserved) were used to assess Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation and magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). The TLR method selectively reduces X-bearing sperm motility via a TLR agonist, whereas MACS separates sperm based on Y-bearing sperm having a more positive surface charge than X-bearing sperm. The TLRs were confirmed to be present in rhinoceros sperm, with TLR7 primarily localized to the head region (90–95 %) and TLR8 to the flagellum (∼50 %). Activation with a TLR8 ligand reduced velocity (P = 0.001) but did not alter the distribution of X- and Y-bearing sperm in the upper and lower swim-up layers (P = 0.259). Negatively charged magnetic nanoparticles associated and pulled a portion of sperm to the tube wall when magnetic force was applied, leaving 35–80 % of sperm free in suspension, depending on the treatment conditions. However, no enrichment for X-bearing sperm was observed in the unbound fraction (P &gt; 0.27). These results indicate that neither method physically separated X- from Y-bearing rhinoceros sperm under the tested conditions. Nonetheless, the findings provide important foundational data for refining alternative methods for sex-sorting in this species and highlight both the potential and the challenges of applying such methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144570603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First successful cervical artificial insemination in the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)","authors":"Sara Elsafadi ,&nbsp;Reto Giacometti ,&nbsp;Sandra Milena Bernal-Ulloa ,&nbsp;Susanne Holtze ,&nbsp;Sylvia Ortmann ,&nbsp;Davide Bosi ,&nbsp;Mara D. Saenz-de-Juano ,&nbsp;Alexander S. Leonard ,&nbsp;Hubert Pausch ,&nbsp;Frank Göritz ,&nbsp;Thomas Hildebrandt ,&nbsp;Susanne E. Ulbrich","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The European roe deer (<em>Capreolus capreolus</em>) is unique among artiodactyls for undergoing embryonic diapause, a 4–5 months period of reduced embryonic development at the blastocyst stage. However, our knowledge of the reproductive physiology and endocrinology of the seasonal roe deer, particularly regarding embryo development and diapause, remains limited. Addressing this knowledge gap is crucial and necessitates further advancements in reproductive technologies. Here, this case report documents the first successful artificial insemination resulting in a pregnancy and live birth in this species, marking a significant breakthrough in its reproductive management. The timing of artificial insemination was assessed through careful behavioral observations of the time of mating by a vasectomized teaser buck. Cervical insemination was then performed using frozen-thawed sperm collected earlier from a fertile buck. DNA sequencing of the progeny, the parents and non-related individuals in the herd confirmed the parent-offspring relationship between the fawn and the sperm donor buck. While this study serves as a proof of concept, it also identifies potential areas for enhancement, such as improving estrus detection methods, sperm handling techniques, and the insemination procedure itself. This research paves the way for advanced reproductive strategies in roe deer and potentially other species with similar reproductive characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144865127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endoscopic visual anatomy of urogenital tract in female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)","authors":"Yaduraj Khadpekar ,&nbsp;Govind S ,&nbsp;Niraj Dahe ,&nbsp;Jorge Soares ,&nbsp;Nuhacet Fernández ,&nbsp;Tenzing L. Lachenpa ,&nbsp;Shubham Patil ,&nbsp;Akshay Ghatare ,&nbsp;Vaisakh Viswam ,&nbsp;Nikorn Thongtip ,&nbsp;Jahan Ahmed ,&nbsp;Nirmali Sarma","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Populations of Asian elephants (<em>Elephas maximus</em>) have been declining in the wild, mostly due to the habitat loss and conflicts with humans. The elephants under human care thus become a very important source and opportunity to study this species, as well as for the future conservation efforts through captive breeding and conservation programs. Although a lot of work has been done on the reproductive physiology of Asian elephants, there is a limited information available on the detailed anatomy of the reproductive tract. Endoscopy offers a direct visual observation of internal organs and examination of anatomy in live animals. We examined urogenital tracts of 30 female Asian elephants under standing sedation, with the flexible endoscope. The examinations were carried out as part of urogenital tract health assessment, and treatment of infections and pathologies. The distances of different parts from the external vulva opening, were measured. Detailed description of the visual anatomy of each of the urogenital tract parts through endoscope has been provided in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100121"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143474576","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}