Reproductive endocrine study in Brazilian wild felids: puberty and ovarian cyclicity in jaguar (Panthera onca); gestation and postpartum in jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) based on fecal progestins concentrations by enzymeimmunoassay

Abstract

During the last decade, the development of noninvasive techniques to analyze estrogens and progestagens metabolites in fecal samples has allowed the effective characterization of estrous cycle, pregnancy and seasonal reproduction in several species of felids. Recent studies used a monoclonal antibody (CL425) for detection of fecal progestines in wild felids; this antibody has an important cross-reactivity with the most important metabolites described for this taxon. The present study will use the enzymeimmunoassay technique and the monoclonal antibody (CL 425) to identify the fecal progestines profile in the beginning of ovarian activity and to characterize the ovarian activity using the progestines fecal metabolites to clarify the conflicts associated with variation in the concentrations of this hormone in jaguar (Panthera onca); to characterize the luteal activity during gestation and postpartum in jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). (AU)