Ec. Ramsay et al., URINARY STEROID EVALUATIONS TO MONITOR OVARIAN-FUNCTION IN EXOTIC UNGULATES .10. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS IN PERISSODACTYLA, Zoo biology, 13(2), 1994, pp. 129-147
Enzymeimmunoassays (EIAs) for estrone conjugates (EC), pregnanediol-3-
glucuronide (PDG), and C-19 and C-21 progesterone metabolites (C-19/C-
21) were used to analyze urine samples from four nondomestic equid spe
cies, four tapir species, and two rhinoceros species in an attempt to
identify if these assays could be used for diagnosing and monitoring p
regnancy. The same urine samples were also analyzed for the presence o
f equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) activity, using a field dipstick
test and a radioimmunoassay (RIA). The EC EIA was validated for three
equid species and the Malayan tapir, Neither the PDG nor the C-19/C-2
1 EIAs were validated in any species evaluated. In equid species, the
EC EIA demonstrated a specificity (the percentage of nonpregnant sampl
es identified correctly) of 100% and a sensitivity (the percentage of
pregnant samples identified correctly) of greater-than-or-equal-to 88%
. With the exception of the Grevy's zebra, the C-19/C-21 EIA showed a
similar accuracy in identifying pregnant and nonpregnant equids. The P
DG EIA was not sufficiently accurate to merit its use in equids or tap
irs for pregnancy diagnosis. From the data collected, it appears analy
sis of a single urine by both the EC EIA and the C-19/C-21 EIA would b
e the best method of pregnancy detection during the last 2 trimesters
of gestation, in equid species. In tapirs, the C-19/C-21 EIA was sligh
tly more accurate for pregnancy diagnosis than the EC EIA. The C-19/C-
21 EIA had a specificity of 93%, but a sensitivity of only 73% in tapi
r species. None of the EIAs evaluated demonstrated a sufficient specif
icity or sensitivity to be useful, as presently performed, for pregnan
cy diagnosis from a single sample in the black rhinoceros. The eCG dip
stick used in this study did not prove a sufficiently reliable test fo
r routine pregnancy in nondomestic equids. The eCG RIA results in the
Przewalski's horses and the Hartman' s mountain zebra were positive ea
rly in gestation, and indicate that gonadotropin analysis may be usefu
l for pregnancy detection in these species. Only very low amounts of e
CG activity was measured by the eCG RIA in the tapir and rhinoceros ur
ine samples. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.