IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Moreira, N. | |
| Reproduction and stress in female felids of the genus Leopardus | |
| 2001 Full Book | |
_Leopardus_ genus, here studied, comprises three species: tigrina (_Leopardus tigrinus_), ocelot (_Leopardus pardalis_) and margay (_Leopardus wiedii_). These three species are included in the Brazilian official list of threatened species, published by IBAMA. For the creation and maintenance of a genome resource bank in captivity we have, urgently, to increase the reproductive efficiency and to reduce the neonatal mortality. By this way, this thesis especially seeks to contribute for this aim, aiding in conservation of these threatened species. A series of studies focused on the (1) comparison between dry and wet fecal samples for steroid analysis by radioimmunoassay in felids of the Leopardus genus; (2) reproductive steroid hormones and ovarian activity in felids of the Leopardus genus; (3) validation of an enzimeimmunoassay (EIA) for estrogen determination in feces of small felids; (4) effects of captivity conditions on reproductive and adrenocortical aspects in tigrina and margay females; (5) fecal progestogens, estrogens and corticoids during gestation, parturition and lactation in tigrina and margay; (6) reproduction in South American small felids - females. There was a good correspondence between steroid concentrations in dried versus wet fecal samples across species (P < 0.05). Based on intervals between fecal estrogen peaks, mean (ñ SEM) duration of the estrous cycle was 18.4 ñ 1.6 days for the ocelots, 16.7 ñ 1.3 days for the tigrinas and 17.6 ñ 1.5 days for the margays. Only the margays differed by exhibiting more frequently spontaneous, non-mating-induced ovulations. EIA method was validated through parallelism demonstration with RIA. Based on hormonal analyses, tigrina females showed a decrease in ovarian activity and a concurrent increase in corticoid concentrations, which may be an indicator of stress induced by moving cats from a large, enriched enclosure to a small, emptyone. Hormonal profiles presented during gestation, parturition and lactation in tigrina and margay resemble a lot, in general lines the other felids, suggesting that these mechanisms are conserved in the taxon, in spite of the steroids excretion rate be more species-specific. By this way, it is hoped that understanding the reproductive physiology and behavior of these species could lead to improved management strategies that may result in decreased stress and increased reproductive success. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |