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Combined serial ultrasonography and fecal progestin analysis for reproductive evaluation of the female white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum ): Preliminary results
Author(s) -
Radcliffe Robin W.,
Czekala Nancy M.,
Osofsky Steven A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2361(1997)16:5<445::aid-zoo7>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - rhinoceros , biology , ovulation , estrous cycle , medicine , endocrinology , physiology , follicle , hormone , zoology
Ultrasonographic examinations of one multiparous 33‐year‐old female southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum ) resulted in documentation of the animal's estrous cycle, elucidation of the timing of ovulation in relation to estrus, and ultrasonographic evidence of endometritis and associated early embryonic death. The preovulatory follicle was observed to change in shape from spherical to pear‐shape (n = 3) and to reach a mean follicular diameter of ˜30 mm (n = 4) in the 48 hr preceding estrus. An ovulation site in the location of the preovulatory follicle was observed to occur within 24 hr postbreeding on one occasion. Both pregnancies monitored in this female in 1995 were lost by day 28 postovulation, with collapse of the embryonic vesicle documented via ultrasound. Ultrasonographic evidence of endometritis was observed in this female and was characterized by small quantities of anechoic intrauterine fluid collections (5–20 mm diameter) in late diestrus (n = 4, mean day observed was 20.5 days postovulation, with a range of 18–24 days). Fecal samples collected at the time of ultrasound were evaluated via radioimmunoassay for progesterone metabolites. A substantial rise in fecal progestins was not identified until 7–9 days postovulation. This study illustrates the value of combining the complementary techniques of ultrasonographic “mapping” of events with fecal hormone assay to enhance the accuracy of reproductive monitoring. Zoo Biol 16:445–456, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.