Molenaar, Fieke M;
Rowcliffe, Marcus;
Lakey, Andrew;
(2023)
Adaptation of a Point-of-Care Canine Progesterone Test for Use of Parturition Prediction in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus): Proof of Concept.
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
, 53
(4)
pp. 791-796.
10.1638/2021-0010.
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Abstract
In the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the levels of progesterone products 5α-pregnane, 3α-hydroxypregnane, and 17α-progesterone are elevated during pregnancy. Detection of a sudden decrease in blood progesterone product levels in the final days of pregnancy is considered an objective way of predicting impending parturition. Point-of-care (POC) tests eliminate the cost involved in transporting samples to an external laboratory and provide an almost instant result, facilitating decision-making for animal monitoring and management. This proof-of-concept study aims to investigate the ability of the AgPlus POC immunoassay system to measure 4-pregnen-3,20-dione in pregnant elephant serum samples and adapt the method for detection of the preparturient progesterone decrease. Frozen serum samples of two pregnant elephants (N = 82) and fresh serum samples of one pregnant elephant (N = 10) were analyzed using both the POC method and a radioimmunoassay in a reference laboratory. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant difference between the two methods for detection of the progesterone drop, indicating that the POC method can be considered appropriate for use in elephant parturition prediction. Refinement of the methodology, an increase of sample size, and temporal tandem radioimmunoassay would be required to further validate this method for use in elephant reproductive management.
Type: | Article |
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Title: | Adaptation of a Point-of-Care Canine Progesterone Test for Use of Parturition Prediction in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus): Proof of Concept |
Location: | United States |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
DOI: | 10.1638/2021-0010 |
Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1638/2021-0010 |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions. |
UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Genetics, Evolution and Environment |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10175723 |
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