Non-invasive monitoring of ovarian cyclicity in Lycalopex vetulus

• Grant number: 12/22940-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Alcindo de Barros Vaz Guimarâes
• Grantee: Marcelo Alcindo de Barros Vaz Guimarâes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) is a small canid (2.5-4kg) endemic to the savannah of central Brazil. It is classified by IUCN as data deficient, not existing in the literature a detailed description of the estrous cycle of this species. The present study aims to characterize ovarian cyclicity in Lycalopex vetulus using non-invasive method: Extraction and measurement of fecal metabolites of progesterone and estradiol, using the technique of enzimeimmunoassay, and to verify the possible existence of monthly differences between the concentrations of these metabolites in a period of 12 months. It will be studied nine adult females, in five institutions in the state of Sao Paulo, where feces will be collected three times per week for each individual during 12 months for the extraction and measurement of metabolites of progesterone and estradiol. (AU)