14 - Applications of Fertility Regulation for the Management of Wild and Domestic Species

Abstract

This chapter discusses the applications of fertility regulation for the management of wild and domestic species. Effective and humane management of wild and domestic animal populations is becoming a major issue. This problem can be viewed from two completely different perspectives: (1) The problem of controlling desirable animals in their native environments and (2) the problem of controlling in foreign environments introduced exotic animals. An understanding of the induction, modulation, and duration of reproductive tract immune responses is important for the successful development of immuno-contraceptive vaccines. The precise reproductive tract target site will depend extensively on the vaccine antigens employed for this process. Preliminary modeling studies indicate that fertility control may have a role in the management of fox rabies by reducing the numbers of foxes in a particular region and thus, reducing the transmission rate of the disease. Effective application of a vaccine for fertility control requires that a high level of immunity be achieved among individuals exposed to the vaccine. The application of fertility control technologies for the management of animal populations is still a relatively new concept. Although there have been demonstrations of its utility using crude antigenic preparations of porcine zona pellucida, refined, cheap, and easily delivered vaccines are still in the early phases of development and testing, especially those required for remote delivery to free-ranging wild animal populations. The relatively slow emergence of such technologies for practical application clearly reflects the complexity of the problem and highlights the requirement for a multidisciplinary research approach when attempting to develop such technologies for wild animal management.