Faecal steroid metabolites for non-invasive assessment of reproduction in common warthogs ( Phacochoerus africanus), red river hogs ( Potamochoerus porcus) and babirusa ( Babyrousa babyrussa)

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to analyse faecal steroid metabolites in African and South East Asian pig species kept in European zoos. Species studied were the warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus), the red river hog ( Potamochoerus porcus) and the babirusa ( Babyrousa babyrussa). Faecal samples were collected 1–3 times per week from non-pregnant and pregnant captive female warthogs ( n = 9), red river hogs ( n = 7) and babirusas ( n = 5). Enzyme-immunoassays for faecal progesterone, androgen, and oestrogen metabolites, were tested for their ability to determine follicular and luteal phases. In all three species, oestrous cycles could be monitored with 20α-OH- and 20-oxo-pregnane assays. In contrast, oestrogens and androgens were not useful in characterising follicular activity during the oestrous cycle in any species. Faecal 20α-OH- and 20-oxo-pregnane values were significantly correlated. Faecal pregnane concentrations revealed species-specific differences. Luteal phase values of 20α-OH-pregnanes were considerably higher than 20-oxo-pregnanes; 20α-OH-pregnanes were in the range of 3–10 μg/g in warthogs and red river hogs, whereas concentrations were 30–200 μg/g faeces in the babirusa. Regular oestrus cycles had a length of about 35 days in all three species studied. Results indicated a seasonal influence on the occurrence of reproductive cycles in the warthog with anoestrous periods in the European summer. The red river hog was found to be a seasonal and poly oestrous breeder; oestrus cycles started by January and continued until summer. In contrast, the babirusa showed non-seasonal ovarian cyclicity. In pregnant red river hogs, progesterone metabolites were comparable to luteal phase values of the oestrous cycle during the first 3 months of gestation, but did further increase during the last month of pregnancy. Oestrogens and 17-oxo-androstanes were significantly elevated during the second half of gestation. In summary, the reproductive biology of three exotic pig species was studied using non-invasive faecal steroid analysis and these methods were used for comparative investigations of oestrous cycles, pregnancy and seasonality.