DETERMINATION OF FECAL GESTAGENS IN SOWS BY COMMERCIAL PROGESTERONE EIA KIT

The aim of the study was to test the applicability of commercial proge sterone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit for faecal gestagen determination in sows. Faecal and blood samples were collected every second day fro m oestrus until d 16, and every day from d 16 until d 21 of oestrous c ycle or pregnancy. Extraction of gestagens from faeces was performed b y methanol. Faecal gestagen and plasma progesterone concentrations wer e measured by Ovucheck 96 Well Plasma/Serum Progesterone EIA kit, Chan ges in faecal gestagen (progesterone and its metabolites) concentratio n during the oestrous cycle or pregnancy significantly correlated with plasma progesterone levels. Faecal gestagen concentrations on days 20 and 21 of oestrous cycle were 2148 +/- 474 and 1961 +/- 65 nmol/kg. I n the same period of pregnancy faecal gestagen concentrations were 762 4 +/- 8 and 7468 +/- 106 nmol/kg, respectively. In pregnant animals, t he faecal gestagen concentrations were significantly higher (P< 0.01) than in non-pregnant ones. The results indicate that measurement of fa ecal gestagens in sows by using commercial EIA kit is suitable for pro gesterone status detection in healthy animals, but is not appropriate in animals suffering from diarrhoea.