Fecal sex steroids and reproductive behaviors in harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja).

Aiming to improve our reproductive knowledge of large birds of prey, behavioral data and fecal steroids were assessed in captive pairs of Harpy eagles, a keystone species that is monogamous and resides in the Neotropics year-round. Adult individuals exhibited different reproductive outcomes and a breeding season extending beyond summer solstice (5-9 months) suggests that harpy eagles may not be absolutely photorefractory. Comparisons among breeding stages in males revealed that mean androgen levels in courtship were higher than in copulation and incubation, but no differences were detected in fecal progestagens or estrogens. Females had higher mean estrogen concentrations in courtship and copulation, whereas mean progestagen levels peaked during egg laying. Mean androgen concentrations were not significantly different among breeding stages in females. Assessment of six egg-lay cycles from three females demonstrated that fecal estrogens peaked predominantly between 31 and 18 days before oviposition (-31 to -18 days), and then remained low until 45 days after laying the first egg (+45 days). In contrast, fecal progestagens raised mostly between -20 and +1 day, lowering to baseline concentrations by +3 days. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe in detail endocrine and behavioral data regarding reproduction in tropical eagles, which may serve in the future as a reference to developing breeding programs.

The use of altrenogest to avoid hyperestrogenism after eCG-hCG ovulation induction in southern tigrina (Leopardus guttulus).

The goal of this study was to optimize an ovulation induction protocol for use with artificial insemination in the southern tigrina (Leopardus guttulus). The specific aims were to report the efficacy of using altrenogest, an oral progestin (Regumate, MSD Animal Health, Merck Animal Health), to suppress ovarian activity and prevent follicular hyperstimulation and hyperestrogenism after the administration of exogenous eCG and hCG. To monitor ovarian responses, fecal estrogen and progestogen metabolites were quantified by enzyme immunoassay in females before and after intramuscular administration of 200-IU eCG and 150-IU hCG in two trials, 4 months apart. During the first trial, there was no use of altrenogest, only the eCG-hCG ovulation induction protocol. In the second trial, the ovulation induction protocol was preceded by the administration of oral altrenogest for 14 days (minimum of 0.192 mg per kg per day). Altrenogest administration resulted in a suppression of follicular activity in three out of six females before eCG-hCG administration on the basis of lower mean estrogen concentrations (P < 0.05). It also resulted in four out of six females presenting lower fecal estrogen metabolite concentrations (P < 0.05) after ovulation induction, and two out of six individuals showed a reduction (P < 0.05) in postovulatory fecal progestogen metabolite concentrations, all when compared to the same female's cycles without the progestin. Fecal estrogen metabolite concentrations were closer to baseline in 50% of these individuals after altrenogest and eCG-hCG treatments when compared to basal concentrations before gonadotropins without the use of altrenogest. This study reported that use of altrenogest in southern tigrina can suppress ovarian activity and avoid hyperestrogenism after administration of eCG and hCG treatment. However, not all females responded uniformly, so more studies are needed to increase the efficacy of ovulation induction for use with artificial insemination in this species.

Haematological values for captive harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) / Valores hematológicos para águia hapia (Harpia harpyja) em cativeiro

Decreasing of harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) populations in natural environments, mainly in non-preserved areas, makes captive population management an important contribution to genetic diversity conservation. The aim of this study is to evaluate hematological parameters for captive harpy eagles maintained at the wild animals breeding center of Itaipu Binacional, Paraná State, Brazil. Fourteen blood samples from nine harpy eagles were collected from animals of both sexes, of different ages and with no clinical signs of disease. Significant variations were found in haematological values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leukocyte, a relative number of heterophils, absolute and relative number of lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and plasma protein between groups of young (less than six months old) and adult birds. Comparing males and females there was variation in the values of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) on heterophils, absolute and relative number of lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils. There was also variation in the values of red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leukocyte count, absolute number of lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils among birds that study compared to another reference birds. Due to the limited information available on harpy eagle hematology, this study will be useful to the clinical assessment of birds maintained in captivity...

A diminuição de populações de harpia (Harpia harpyja) em ambientes naturais, principalmente em áreas não preservadas, torna a gestão população cativa uma contribuição importante para a conservação da diversidade genética. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar os parâmetros hematológicos de harpias em cativeiro mantidas para os animais selvagens de reprodução centro da Itaipu Binacional, Paraná, Brasil. Quatorze amostras de sangue de nove harpias foram coletadas de animais de ambos os sexos, de diferentes idades e sem sinais clínicos da doença. Variações significativas foram encontradas nos valores hematológicos de hematócrito, hemoglobina, hemoglobina corpuscular média (HCM), concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM), de leucócitos, um número relativo de heterófilos, absoluta e número relativo de linfócitos, monócitos, eosinófilos, basófilos e proteínas plasmáticas entre grupos de jovens (menos de seis meses de idade) e adultos aves. Comparando homens e mulheres houve variação nos valores de eritrócitos, hemoglobina, volume corpuscular médio (VCM), hemoglobina corpuscular média (HCM) em heterófilos, o número absoluto e relativo de linfócitos, eosinófilos e basófilos. Houve também variação nos valores de células vermelhas do sangue, hematócrito, hemoglobina, volume corpuscular médio (VCM), hemoglobina corpuscular média (HCM), concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM), contagem de leucócitos, número absoluto de linfócitos, eosinófilos e basófilos entre aves que estudam em comparação com outras aves de referência. Devido à pouca informação disponível sobre hematologia harpia, este estudo será útil para a avaliação clínica das aves mantidas em cativeiro...

Comparison of methods for determination of nutrient digestibility of a dry kibble diet for ocelots / Comparação de métodos para estimar coeficientes de digestibilidade de uma ração comercial de gatos-domésticos para jaguatiricas

In this experiment, methods of total fecal collection (TFC) and internal markers (acid-insoluble ash - AIA, crude fiber - CF, and acid-detergent fiber - ADF) were compared for determination of the coefficients of apparent digestibility (CAD) for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), and gross energy (GE) of commercial feline dry kibble for ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). Six adult animals, weighing 12.45±1.37 kg, gradually received experimental kibble in their usual diet until the beginning of the experiment and were submitted to an adaptation period ten days prior to the collection period. CAD obtained by TFC, AIA, CF, and ADF were, respectively, 73.7, 76.83, 62.01, and 46.03% for dry matter; 81.9, 84.8, 75.8, and 63.8% for crude protein; 85, 86.7, 78.5, and 69.1% for ether extract; 78.52, 79.55, 69.11, and 53.04% for nitrogen-free extracts; and 80.5, 82.2, 71.4, and 58.4% for gross energy. The AIA method showed to be efficient in determining coefficients of apparent digestibility and may contribute to investigations on the digestibility of diets for wild felines. In comparison to the items of ocelot's usual diet, the kibble used in this paper provided an adequate nutritional supply with reduced daily costs per animal.

Neste experimento foram comparados os métodos de coleta total de fezes (CT) e de indicadores internos (cinza insolúvel em ácido - CIA, fibra bruta - FB e fibra em detergente ácido - FDA) na determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), extrativo não nitrogenado (ENN) e energia bruta (EB) de uma ração comercial de gatos-domésticos para jaguatiricas (Leopardus pardalis). Seis animais adultos com peso de 12,45 ± 1,37kg receberam gradativamente a ração experimental na dieta habitual até o início do experimento e foram submetidos a um período de adaptação de 10 dias anteriores ao período de coleta. Os CDA obtidos pela CT, CIA, FB e FDA foram, respectivamente de 73,70; 76,83; 62,01 e 46,03% para matéria seca, 81,9; 84,8; 75,8 e 63,8% para proteína bruta, 85,0; 86,7; 78,5 e 69,1% para extrato etéreo, 78,52; 79,55; 69,11 e 53,04% para extrativo não nitrogenado e de 80,5; 82,2; 71,4 e 58,4% para energia bruta. O método de CIA mostrou-se eficiente na determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente e pode contribuir com as investigações sobre a digestibilidade em dietas com felídeos selvagens. A ração utilizada permitiu aos animais um adequado aporte nutricional e apresentou menores custos/animal/dia em comparação aos itens que compunham a dieta habitual.

Hemotropic mycoplasma in a free-ranging black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) in Brazil.

Hemotropic mycoplasmas are bacteria that infect erythrocytes and cause subclinical infections to life-threatening disease. We describe hemotropic mycoplasma infection in a free-ranging black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya). This is the first molecular detection of a hemotropic mycoplasma in a nonhuman primate from Brazil.