Pharmacological semen collection in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla): A feasible option for captive and free-living animals

Abstract

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a member of the Myrmecophagidae family and is now classified as "Vulnerable" due to the risk of extinction. In spite of this, research on reproductive biotechnologies in the species is rare, and semen collection has only been performed using electroejaculation to date. Pharmaceutical semen collection through urethral catheterization has become a distinct method that is being applied to numerous species of wild animals. In addition to establishing a species-specific setup, we compared semen acquired by urethral catheterization in three wild animals to that obtained in captivity in two animals. The average volume of semen collected was 180,0 ± 24.5 µL, with an average motility of 62 ± 14.7% and a vigor of 3,9 ± 0.8. The concentration of sperm was 194.6 ± 139.8 × 106 per mL. Using pharmaceutical semen collection through urethral catheterization was an effective, practical, and safe way for semen collection and evaluation in captive and free-living giant anteaters, according to the compiled data. We have described a specific setup for analyzing giant anteater semen using the CASA system, eliminating subjectivity from future research.