PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS BY ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY OF ESTROGENS IN FECES FROM NONDOMESTIC SPECIES

A practical method for enzyme immunoassay using microtiter plates has been developed for the quantitative measurement of fecal estrogens. Estrogen concentrations in the feces from a pregnant female gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus abeli), Mhorr gazelle (Gazella dama mhorr), Przewalski's mare (Equus przewalskii), and Malaysian tapir (Tapirus indicus) were substantially higher than values from nonpregnant animals. These preliminary findings suggest that this procedure may be useful for diagnosing pregnancy in these and possibly in related species. Because restraint is unnecessary for collecting feces, this methodology has widespread potential for confined and free-ranging wild animals.