No abstract

Abst+act:The small gmup of wolves on Isle Royale has been studied for over three decades as a model of the relationsbip between large c a r n i m s and their prey. During the last ten years the population declinedfrom 50 individuals to as few as 12 individuals The causes of this decline may be food shortages, disease, or reduced genetic variability. We address the issues of genetic variability and relationsbips of Isle Royale wolves using allozyme electropboresis, mtDNA restriction-site analysis, and multilocus bypervariable minisatellite DNA analysis (genetic fingerprinting). Our results indicate that approximately 50% of the allozyme hetmzygosity has been lost in the island population, a decline similar to that expected i f no immigration bad occurred from the mainland The genetic fingetprinting data indicate that the seven sampled Isle Royale wolves are as similar as captive populations of siblings. Surprising&, the Isle Royale Correspondence should be addmsed fo thtk author. 42 Genetics of Isle Rode Wolves Wajne ef a/. wolves have an mDNA genotype that is very rare on the mainland, being found in only one of 144 mainland wolves ThFF suggests that the remaining Isle Royale wolves areprobably derived from a single female founder

Abstract. Melengestrol acetate (MGA) contraceptives are widely used in zoo felids to regulate fertility and may have deleterious effects on endometrial health. To determine whether MGA exposure was associated with endometrial disease, the genital tracts of 212 zoo felids (99 MGA treated and 113 control) representing 23 species were evaluated. Adenomatous and cystic hyperplasia were prevalent in both MGA-treated (85%) and control (61%) groups, and the risk of developing these lesions increased with age. Treatment with MGA further increased the risk of developing advanced hyperplasia regardless of dose, and treatment for Ͼ72 months significantly elevated that risk, whereas parous animals had a lower risk. Endometrial polyps, fibrosis, adenomyosis, and hydrometra occurred in both MGA-treated and control animals. MGA treatment was associated with an increased risk of hydrometra and mineralization but not of adenomyosis, polyps, or fibrosis after adjusting for advanced hyperplasia. Acute or chronic endometritis were associated with advanced hyperplasia but not with MGA treatment. These results indicate that proliferative and inflammatory endometrial lesions are common spontaneous diseases in zoo cats, and MGA contraceptives increase the risk of some diseases. The association of MGA with endometrial lesions that could impair fertility should be considered when using this contraceptive in genetically valuable felids.Key words: Adenomyosis; contraceptive; endometrial hyperplasia; endometrial polyp; endometritis; felids; melengesterol acetate; mineralization; progestin; pyometra.Melengesterol acetate (MGA) contraceptives have been used extensively in zoologic parks to implement breeding programs for endangered felids. MGA-impregnated silastic implants placed subcutaneously or intramuscularly deliver sufficient concentrations of MGA over a 2-year period to prevent pregnancy in the majority of treated cats. 2,21 Although in one study zoo felids treated for 1 year with MGA were subsequently fertile, many cats are treated with MGA continuously for Ն4 years, and the effects of long-term MGA treatment on endometrial health in zoo cats have not been investigated. 2,21 Prolonged exposure to megestrol acetate has been associated with endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra in domestic cats, 13,17 and progestin contraceptives may have similar effects on zoo felids. To assess whether MGA administration was associated with endometrial disease in zoo felids, we evaluated female reproductive tracts from multiple species through an American Zoo and Aquarium Association collaborative study. Here, we describe the hyperplastic and inflammatory lesions in the endometria of 212 zoo 1 Present address: VCA Sinking Springs Animal Hospital, Sinking Springs, PA. felids and confirm that MGA exposure is a risk factor for development of these lesions. Materials and Methods Study populationReproductive tracts were requested from female felids that died or were ovariohysterectomized in US zoologic parks from 1988 to 1995. Reproductive tracts from 212 fe...

We evaluated the use of serum chemistry and hematological variables as indices of habitat quality for adult (2:::4 yr) female black bears (Ursus americanus) in northeastern Minnesota. Blood samples (n = 182) collected from 48 adult females during 1970-1976 showed seasonal variation (P < 0.05) for four of five hematologic characters and seven of 13 serum chemistries. Body mass, red-blood-cell count, mean corpuscular-volume, serum-urea nitrogen, uric acid, thyroxine, and cortisol were different (P < 0.05) among years of differing food availability. Discriminant functions developed from samples from late summer, autumn, and early hibernation provided 75-80% accuracy in classifying observations into year classes of good and poor food production. Our results suggested that blood characteristics can be indicators of nutritional condition and habitat quality after seasonal rhythms are controlled. We recommend use of blood-profile data to empirically test the utility of our discriminant functions.