Reversibility of action and safety during pregnancy of immunization against porcine zona pellucida in wild mares (Equus caballus).
Abstract: Contraceptive management of publicly valued wildlife species requires safeguards to ensure that these populations are preserved in a healthy state. In addition, reversibility of contraceptive effects and safety in pregnant animals are major concerns. A population of wild horses has been immunized against porcine zona pellucida (PZP) over a 12 year period on Assateague Island National Seashore, MD (ASIS). Mares initially received one or two 65 microg inoculations and once a year 65 microg booster inoculations, all delivered by dart. All young mares aged > 2 years were treated with PZP for 3 consecutive years regardless of whether they have bred successfully and they were then removed from treatment until they had foaled. All mares vaccinated for 1 or 2 consecutive years became fertile again and 69% of mares treated for 3 consecutive years returned to fertility. All five mares treated for 4 or 5 consecutive years have also returned to fertility, but over longer periods of time. Mares treated for 7 consecutive years have not returned to fertility, but several, while still infertile, have started ovulating again. There was no difference in survival rates between foals born to treated and untreated mares, and PZP treatment of pregnant mares did not affect subsequent fertility of their female offspring.
Publication Date: 2002-09-11 PubMed ID: 12220160
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research examines the impacts of vaccination against porcine zona pellucida (PZP), a potential contraceptive method, in wild horse populations. The study confirms that the contraceptive effect of PZP is reversible in most mares, and is not harmful to pregnant mares or their foals.
Objective and Methodology
- The study’s goal was to ascertain whether immunization against porcine zona pellucida (PZP) in wild mares was reversible and safe for use in pregnant mares.
- The study involved a strain of wild horses on Assateague Island National Seashore, MD, which were immunized against PZP for a period of twelve years.
- The horses were given 65 microgram inoculations via dart, followed by annual 65 microgram boosters and all young mares over two years old were treated for a minimum of three years regardless of breeding success.
Findings
- The study revealed that mares that were vaccinated for one or two consecutive years regained fertility.
- Additionally, 69% of mares who were treated for three consecutive years also regained fertility while mares treated for 4 or 5 consecutive years also returned to fertility, but after longer time periods.
- Mares that were treated for approximately seven years did not regain fertility although they began ovulating again after a while.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that PZP immunization is largely reversible and effectively safe for use in pregnant mares.
- It also suggested that PZP treatment did not impact the survival rates of the foals born to treated mares, nor did it affect the subsequent fertility of their female offspring.
Implications
- This research contributes to our understanding of wildlife management, particularly for wild horse populations.
- It helps in development of safe and reversible contraceptive strategies to maintain publicly valued wild animal populations in a healthy state.
Cite This Article
APA
Kirkpatrick JF, Turner A.
(2002).
Reversibility of action and safety during pregnancy of immunization against porcine zona pellucida in wild mares (Equus caballus).
Reprod Suppl, 60, 197-202.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Science and Conservation Center, ZooMontana, Billings 59106, USA. zoolab@wtp.net
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Wild
- Antigens / administration & dosage
- Contraception, Immunologic / methods
- Contraception, Immunologic / veterinary
- Egg Proteins / administration & dosage
- Female
- Fertility
- Horses
- Immunization, Secondary / veterinary
- Membrane Glycoproteins / administration & dosage
- Population Control
- Pregnancy
- Receptors, Cell Surface
- Safety
- Swine
- Time Factors
- Vaccines, Contraceptive / administration & dosage
- Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Massei G. Fertility Control for Wildlife: A European Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 27;13(3).
- Sandam NP, Prakash D, Thimmareddy P. Immunocontraceptive potential of a GnRH receptor-based fusion recombinant protein. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2021 May 4;19(1):63.
- Oliviero C, Lindh L, Peltoniemi O. BOARD INVITED REVIEW: Immunocontraception as a possible tool to reduce feral pig populations: recent and future perspectives. J Anim Sci 2019 May 30;97(6):2283-2290.
- Kuninaga N, Asano M, Matsuyama R, Minemoto T, Mori T, Suzuki M. Serological and histological evaluation of species-specific immunocontraceptive vaccine antigens based on zona pellucida 3 in the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus). J Vet Med Sci 2019 Feb 28;81(2):328-337.
- Nuñez CMV, Adelman JS, Carr HA, Alvarez CM, Rubenstein DI. Lingering effects of contraception management on feral mare (Equus caballus) fertility and social behavior. Conserv Physiol 2017;5(1):cox018.
- Gupta SK, Bansal P. Vaccines for immunological control of fertility. Reprod Med Biol 2010 Jun;9(2):61-71.
- Duncan CL, King JL, Stapp P. Effects of prolonged immunocontraception on the breeding behavior of American bison. J Mammal 2017 Oct 3;98(5):1272-1287.
- Gupta SK, Shrestha A, Minhas V. Milestones in contraceptive vaccines development and hurdles in their application. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014;10(4):911-25.
- Ransom JI, Hobbs NT, Bruemmer J. Contraception can lead to trophic asynchrony between birth pulse and resources. PLoS One 2013;8(1):e54972.
- Nuñez CM, Adelman JS, Rubenstein DI. Immunocontraception in wild horses (Equus caballus) extends reproductive cycling beyond the normal breeding season. PLoS One 2010 Oct 26;5(10):e13635.
- Lin L, Xu M, Ma J, Du C, Zang Y, Huang A, Wei C, Gao Q, Gan S. Behavioral Assessment Reveals GnRH Immunocastration as a Better Alternative to Surgical Castration. Animals (Basel) 2024 Sep 27;14(19).
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