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Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010.
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University of Pretoria
2013
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| _version_ | 1867613481093562368 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Bertschinger, H.J. (Hendrik Jan) |
| author_browse | Bertschinger, H.J. (Hendrik Jan) |
| author_facet | Bertschinger, H.J. (Hendrik Jan) |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2010, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/25181 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:49.885Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publishDateRange | 2013 |
| publishDateSort | 2013 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/25181 Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine Bertschinger, H.J. (Hendrik Jan) Ganswindt, Andre mellie447@yahoo.com Bates, Melodie Joy Porcine zona pellucida Pzp African elephant UCTD Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. Due to overpopulation of African elephants in South Africa and the consequent threat to biodiversity, the need for a method of population control has become evident. The potential use of the porcine zona pellucida (pZP) vaccine as a safe and effective means for population control is explored. While potential effects of pZP treatment on social behaviour of African elephants have been investigated, no examination of the influence of pZP vaccination on the endocrine correlates in treated females has been undertaken. The ovarian activity of freeranging, pZP-treated African elephant females was monitored non-invasively for one year duration by measuring faecal progestagen concentrations via enzyme immunoassay. Behavioural observations were recorded for comparison with progestagen concentrations and to determine any behavioural changes surrounding the pZP vaccine darting event. Each elephant under study showed progestagen concentrations rising above baseline at some period during the study indicating luteal functionality. Average progestagen concentrations were 1.61 ± 0.46 ìg/g. Within sampled females, 42.9% exhibited oestrous cycles within the range reported for African elephants, 14.3% had irregular cycles, and 42.9% did not appear to be cycling. Average oestrous cycle duration was 14.72 ± 0.85 weeks. Behavioural oestrous coincided with the onset of the luteal phase and a subsequent rise in progestagen concentrations. Focal sampling to determine activity budgets before and after the darting event revealed no significant change in behavioural activities. In the week following immunization, individual progestagen concentrations decreased significantly from overall average concentrations. Average progestagen concentrations positively correlated with rainfall and with herd dominance. No association between average individual progestagen concentrations or cyclicity status with age, lactation, or parity were detected. Earlier determination of efficacy was made indicating reproductive control was established 22 months post-treatment. Results indicate the presence of ovarian activity amongst pZP-treated female African elephants in two years following initial immunization. Further study should be aimed toward studying the long term effects of pZP vaccination on the reproductive function of female African elephants. Production Animal Studies unrestricted 2013-09-06T19:44:33Z 2011-01-04 2013-09-06T19:44:33Z 2010-11-26 2011-01-04 2011-01-04 Dissertation Bates, MJ 2010, Endocrine correlates of tree-ranging African elephant (Loxodonata Africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25181 > E10/902/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25181 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01042011-182557/ © 2010, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Porcine zona pellucida Pzp African elephant UCTD Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| title | Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| title_full | Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| title_fullStr | Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| title_short | Endocrine correlates of free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana) treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| title_sort | endocrine correlates of free ranging african elephant loxodonta africana treated with porcine zona pellucida vaccine |
| topic | Porcine zona pellucida Pzp African elephant UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25181 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01042011-182557/ |