Ultrasound Based Health and Reproductive Assessment in a Group of Two Rareantelope Species

Ultrasound based health and reproductive assessment in a group of two rareantelope species (Dorcatragus megalotis and Gazella erlangeri) at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, qatar.

Hildebrandt TB1,Becker F2, Moreno J3, HebelC4, SchilpC4, Arif A4, Bouts T4

1Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, GERMANY, ;

2Leibniz Institute for Farm Animals (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, GERMANY;

3SGIT-INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5,9, 28040 Madrid, Spain;

4Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, P.O. Box 44069 Doha, STATE OF QATAR.

3.9Beira antelopes (Dorcatragusmegalotis) and 3.4 Erlanger’s gazelles (Gazellaerlangeri)were immobilized at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Qatarfor an ultrasound based general health checkincluding a full assessment of their reproductivesoundness. All anaesthetized animals received a lukewarm rectal enema as preparation for transrectal ultrasound. In addition, the inguinal (including scrotum in males) region and both lateral flanks were shaved for subsequent transcutaneous ultrasound application. The following organs and compartments were ultrasonographically assessed in males: testes, prostate, urethra, urinary bladder, kidneys, intestine, adrenals and presence of abdominal fluid. In addition, electro-ejaculation was performed in all males to assess their sperm quality using standard sperm parameters: total volume, colour, smell, semen density, semen motility, semen integrity, percentage of normal and abnormal spermatozoa. One male Erlanger’s gazelle had a swollen neck region which was additionally investigated by transcutaneous ultrasound. In the females the following organs and compartments were investigated: vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, oviducts, ovaries, urethra, urinary bladder, kidneys, intestine, adrenals and presence of abdominal fluid. In result of the detailed assessment we found different stages of kidney degeneration in both sexes, an extensive unilateral hydrosalpinx in a female Beira antelope and a severe goiter formation in the male gazelle with the swollen neck. This animal was euthanized due to the massive pathology. One female Beira antelope was found pregnant with a 52 mm large fetus which showed normal development. Another female Beira antelope had a Graafian follicle (10 mm) on her right ovary and was intrauterine inseminated under ultrasonographic guidance using fresh semen collected from one of the males before. In summary this first performance of a comprehensive health and reproductive assessment in a group of two rare antelope species using ultrasonography allowed a new level of management decisions to improve the stagnated breeding program.The authors will present the improvement of the modified breeding programduring the conference.