Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii)
This report describes an option to modulate the testicular function of wild horses and field methods to assess it. Non-surgical castration of a captive wild Przewalski's stallion with anti-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunization was performed by sub-cutaneous injection of two doses o...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.569185/full |
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| author | Jérôme Ponthier Goulven Rigaux Sonia Parrilla-Hernandez Sophie Egyptien Carine Gatez Carla Carrasco Leroy Stéfan Deleuze Stéfan Deleuze |
| author_facet | Jérôme Ponthier Goulven Rigaux Sonia Parrilla-Hernandez Sophie Egyptien Carine Gatez Carla Carrasco Leroy Stéfan Deleuze Stéfan Deleuze |
| author_sort | Jérôme Ponthier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This report describes an option to modulate the testicular function of wild horses and field methods to assess it. Non-surgical castration of a captive wild Przewalski's stallion with anti-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunization was performed by sub-cutaneous injection of two doses of 450 μg (3 ml) of GnRH conjugated to diphtheria toxin, further repeated every 6 months. Semen quality was assessed after collection by electro-ejaculation under general anesthesia. Endocrine and behavioral consequences were studied during a 2-year follow-up period. The procedure of electro-ejaculation was safe and effective to collect spermatozoa. Motility was low but was improved by a significant dilution of sample (1v/4v−1v/5v) after collection. Immuno-neutering resulted in a decrease of the total spermatozoa number and motility 1 month after primary vaccination. However, infertility could not yet be guaranteed. Six months post-vaccination, serum testosterone concentrations had decreased and the treated stallion had lost his harem stallion role. Moreover, at the same time, the total spermatozoa number was near zero with no motile spermatozoa, and offspring was no longer observed. As a conclusion, electro-ejaculation under general anesthesia is suitable on wild horses to obtain spermatozoa that should be washed or largely diluted before use for artificial insemination (AI) programs. Anti-GnRH immuno-neutering protocol led to a dramatic decrease of spermatozoa number, motility, and testosterone production. This also induced deep changes in the social structure of the band. Such technique could be considered as an alternative to surgical castration in wild horses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:58:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4bf0663afd54eb989a4e9146cfb3fd6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:58:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4bf0663afd54eb989a4e9146cfb3fd62022-12-22T01:16:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692020-11-01710.3389/fvets.2020.569185569185Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii)Jérôme Ponthier0Goulven Rigaux1Sonia Parrilla-Hernandez2Sophie Egyptien3Carine Gatez4Carla Carrasco Leroy5Stéfan Deleuze6Stéfan Deleuze7Equine and Companion Animal Reproduction Pathologies Clinic, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumDomaine des Grottes de Han, Han sur Lesse, Rochefort, BelgiumAnimal Physiology, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumEquine and Companion Animal Reproduction Pathologies Clinic, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumAnimal Physiology, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumDomaine des Grottes de Han, Han sur Lesse, Rochefort, BelgiumEquine and Companion Animal Reproduction Pathologies Clinic, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumAnimal Physiology, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumThis report describes an option to modulate the testicular function of wild horses and field methods to assess it. Non-surgical castration of a captive wild Przewalski's stallion with anti-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunization was performed by sub-cutaneous injection of two doses of 450 μg (3 ml) of GnRH conjugated to diphtheria toxin, further repeated every 6 months. Semen quality was assessed after collection by electro-ejaculation under general anesthesia. Endocrine and behavioral consequences were studied during a 2-year follow-up period. The procedure of electro-ejaculation was safe and effective to collect spermatozoa. Motility was low but was improved by a significant dilution of sample (1v/4v−1v/5v) after collection. Immuno-neutering resulted in a decrease of the total spermatozoa number and motility 1 month after primary vaccination. However, infertility could not yet be guaranteed. Six months post-vaccination, serum testosterone concentrations had decreased and the treated stallion had lost his harem stallion role. Moreover, at the same time, the total spermatozoa number was near zero with no motile spermatozoa, and offspring was no longer observed. As a conclusion, electro-ejaculation under general anesthesia is suitable on wild horses to obtain spermatozoa that should be washed or largely diluted before use for artificial insemination (AI) programs. Anti-GnRH immuno-neutering protocol led to a dramatic decrease of spermatozoa number, motility, and testosterone production. This also induced deep changes in the social structure of the band. Such technique could be considered as an alternative to surgical castration in wild horses.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.569185/fullwildlife preservationPrzewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii)anti-GnRH immunizationneuteringcastrationelectro-ejaculation |
| spellingShingle | Jérôme Ponthier Goulven Rigaux Sonia Parrilla-Hernandez Sophie Egyptien Carine Gatez Carla Carrasco Leroy Stéfan Deleuze Stéfan Deleuze Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) Frontiers in Veterinary Science wildlife preservation Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) anti-GnRH immunization neutering castration electro-ejaculation |
| title | Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) |
| title_full | Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) |
| title_fullStr | Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) |
| title_short | Case Report: Suppression of Harem Stallion Behavior and Fertility Following Anti-Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccination of a Captive Wild Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) |
| title_sort | case report suppression of harem stallion behavior and fertility following anti gonadotropin releasing hormone vaccination of a captive wild przewalski s horse equus ferus przewalskii |
| topic | wildlife preservation Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) anti-GnRH immunization neutering castration electro-ejaculation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.569185/full |
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