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1 December 2011 Fecal Steroid Analysis for Evaluating Ovarian Function in the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)
Peter A. Black, Ava M. Trent, Joan E. Bauman, Ralph J. Farnsworth, Steven L. Monfort
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Seasonal reproductive-endocrine norms have not been described for the genus Tragelaphus, which consists of seven species of African antelope. Longitudinal patterns of progesterone metabolite excretion were assessed by radioimmunoassays in fecal samples collected noninvasively (three to seven samples per week) from greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, n = 4) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis, n = 4). Progesterone metabolite excretion patterns revealed seasonal estrous cycles in both species, and discrimination of pregnant versus nonpregnant females was achieved in lesser kudu. These data reveal the value of fecal progesterone metabolites for establishing reproductive-endocrine norms in both zoo-maintained and free-living antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus.

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Peter A. Black, Ava M. Trent, Joan E. Bauman, Ralph J. Farnsworth, and Steven L. Monfort "Fecal Steroid Analysis for Evaluating Ovarian Function in the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 42(4), 558-564, (1 December 2011). https://doi.org/10.1638/2010-0035.1
Received: 27 February 2010; Published: 1 December 2011
KEYWORDS
fecal hormones
greater kudu
Lesser kudu
progesterone metabolites
Tragelaphus
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