ABSTRACT
Serum hormone levels were compared between captive and free-living maned wolves and seasonal variations of sex hormones were studied. Blood samples were collected from 16 male and 26 female adult animals from Brazilian zoos, and from 30 male and 24 female free-living adults to determine serum progesterone and testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Serum testosterone concentrations varied (P < 0.05) across seasons for 16 captive males, being higher in autumn (2184.7 ± 355.1 pg/mL) than in summer (1080.7 ± 205.4 pg/mL), winter (1270.1 ± 276.6 pg/mL) and spring (963.9 ± 248.1 pg/mL), although they did not differ between summer, winter and spring. Testosterone concentration of 30 free-living males differed (P < 0.05) between autumn (824.1 ± 512.2 pg/mL), winter (14.4 ± 8.0 pg/mL) and spring (151.9 ± 90.5 pg/mL). Comparison between captive and free-living animals showed no difference in autumn (P > 0.05). Sixteen captive males showed higher testosterone concentration during winter and spring compared with 30 free-living animals (P < 0.05). Progesterone concentration varied among seasons in 26 captive females (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn (15.3 ± 3.1 ng/mL) than in summer (6.6 ± 1.5 ng/mL), winter (5.3 ± 3.1 ng/mL) and spring (4.3 ± 0.7 ng/mL). Progesterone concentration of 24 free-living females varied between autumn (17.1 ± 6.0 ng/mL) and winter (1.7 ± 0.3 ng/mL) (P < 0.05), but we could not obtain data for spring or summer. No difference in progesterone levels was observed between captive and free-living females in autumn and winter.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Animals, Zoo/blood , Progesterone/blood , Testosterone/blood , Wolves/blood , Radioimmunoassay , SeasonsABSTRACT
The aims of this study were to verify the distribution of births of captive maned wolves Chrysocyon brachyurus and the causes of their deaths during the period from 1980 to 1998, based on the registry of births and deaths in the International Studbook for Maned Wolves. To determine birth distribution and average litter size, 361 parturitions were analyzed for the 1989-98 period. To analyze causes of mortality, the animals were divided into four groups: 1. pups born in captivity that died prior to one year of age; 2. animals born in captivity that died at more than one year of age; 3. animals captured in the wild that died at any age; and 4. all animals that died during the 1980-98 period. In group 1, the main causes of mortality were parental incompetence (67 percent), infectious diseases, (9 percent) and digestive system disorders (5 percent). The average mortality rate for pups was 56 percent. Parental incompetence was responsible for 95 percent of pup deaths during the first week of life. In group 2, the main causes were euthanasia (18 percent) and disorders of the genitourinary (10 percent) and digestive systems (8 percent). Euthanasia was implemented due to senility, congenital disorders, degenerative diseases, and trauma. In group 3, the main causes were digestive system disorders (12 percent), infectious diseases (10 percent), and lesions or accidents (10 percent). The main causes of mortality of maned wolves in captivity (group 4) were parental incompetence (38 percent), infectious diseases (9 percent), and digestive system disorders (7 percent)
Subject(s)
Animals , Cause of Death , Wolves , Age Factors , Behavior, Animal , Euthanasia , Litter Size , Population DynamicsABSTRACT
Este estudo teve como objetivos acompanhar a resposta sorológica pós-vacinal de lobos guará cativos imunizados contra os vírus da cinomose (CDV) e da parvovirose (CPV) caninas com vacina vírus vivo modificado (VVM) produzida para cäes domésticos e determinar um programa de vacinaçäo para a espécie. Amostras de soro foram coletadas de 47 lobos com idades variadas, provenientes de seis zôos. Foram utilizados os testes de soroneutralizaçäo (SN) e inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo (HI) para mensurar os títulos de anticorpos contra CDV e CPV, respectivamente, sendo testadas 361 amostras para CDV e 353 para CPV. A avaliaçäo pós-vacinal demonstrou que 72 por cento dos espécimes desenvolveram títulos de SN >-100 contra CDV e 98 por cento desenvolveram títulos de HI >- 80 contra CPV. Lobos guarás sem histórico de vacinaçäo apresentaram soroconversäo após a vacinaçäo. Espécimes com histórico de vacinaçäo e títulos considerados protetores para cäes domésticos mantiveram títulos estáveis ao longo de 12 meses após a vacinaçäo. A VVM utilizada (CDV atenuado por passagens em ovos embrionados de aves SPF e posteriormente adaptado às células da linhagem VERO) mostrou-se segura para os lobos guarás adultos e filhotes