Field test of a single-injection gonadotrophin-releasing hormone immunocontraceptive vaccine in female white-tailed deer

Gionfriddo, James P.; Eisemann, John D.; Sullivan, Kevin; Healey, Ronald S.; Miller, Lowell A.; Fagerstone, Kathleen A.; Engeman, Richard M.; Yoder, Christi A.

doi:10.1071/wr08061

Cited by 32 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…However, in contrast to our measurements, Killian et al [12] showed a weak inverse relationship between contraceptive efficacy of the vaccine and antibody levels: increasing effectiveness with decreasing antibody titers. Their result is difficult to explain biologically in light of our observations and others [24,43] that support a strong positive association between infertility and antibody levels. Their finding may be an artifact of small sample size.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunization on Reproductive Function and Behavior in Captive Female Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)1

Powers¹,

Baker²,

Davis³

et al. 2011

Biology of Reproduction

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Fertility control is a potential method for managing overabundant wildlife populations; however, current technology is limited by duration of treatment efficacy and unacceptable side effects. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a single immunization with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine to suppress reproductive function in pregnant female elk and to evaluate potential behavioral and pathological side effects of treatment. Eighteen captive adult female elk were randomly allocated to one of two experimental groups. Ten females were administered a conjugated and adjuvanted GnRH vaccine intramuscularly, and eight elk received an adjuvant sham vaccine without conjugated GnRH. We compared success of existing pregnancy, neonatal survival, subsequent fertility, reproductive behavior rates, and side effects of treatment between January 2006 and January 2010. The GnRH vaccination did not affect existing pregnancy or calf survival during the year that it was applied; however, it reduced the proportion of pregnant females for 3 yr. Male precopulatory behavior rates exhibited toward GnRH-vaccinated females tended to be greater than those directed at sham-vaccinated females during the second half of the breeding season, when GnRH vaccinates continued to be proceptive. Strong immune and inflammatory responses, including robust GnRH antibody concentrations in GnRH vaccinates, and sterile pyogranulomatous injection site abscesses in both groups, were consistent with vaccination. In conclusion, this GnRH vaccine resulted in prolonged, albeit reversible, impairment of fertility, and is associated with extended reproductive behaviors and partial suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function in captive female elk.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunization on Reproductive Function and Behavior in Captive Female Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)1

Powers¹,

Baker²,

Davis³

et al. 2011

Biology of Reproduction

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“…For instance, GonaConÔ did not affect bodyweight or blood chemistry of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) (Yoder and Miller 2011) and blood chemistry in white-tailed deer (Killian et al 2006b). However, other studies in whitetailed deer, cats and elk reported that animals treated with GonaConÔ developed palpable non-painful injection site granulomata or sterile abscesses that did not seem to affect the welfare of the animals (Killian et al 2006b;Curtis et al 2008;Gionfriddo et al 2009;Levy et al 2011). The granuloma at the injection site plays a prime role in the host's defence against the 'chronic infection' represented by a multiyear immunocontraceptive and is considered necessary to the efficacy of the adjuvant .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of these studies suggested that the effectiveness of GonaconÔ, measured as the proportion of individuals rendered infertile, was greater in captivity than in field trials. For instance GonaConÔ caused infertility in 80% (n = 5) of captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for five years ) but a subsequent study carried out with freeliving animals (Gionfriddo et al 2009) reported infertility in 88% and 47% of the deer (n = 28) during the first and second year after vaccination. Similarly, in captive wild horses GonaConÔ caused infertility in 94%, 60% and 53% of the mares (n = 15) in Year 1, 2 and 3 following vaccination ) but in freeroaming feral horses GonaConÔ caused infertility in 39%, 42% and 31% of the mares (Gray et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

et al. 2012

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Context. Fertility control appears as a publicly acceptable alternative to lethal methods for limiting population growth in wildlife. Recently developed single-dose immunocontraceptive vaccines have induced infertility in several mammals. However, the potential side-effects and the long-term effectiveness of these contraceptives have been poorly investigated.Aims. We tested the long-term effectiveness and potential side-effects of the single-dose gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine GonaConÔ on captive female wild boar.Methods. We carried out two sequential trials: Trial 1 (n = 6 GonaConÔ-treated and 6 control wild boar) and Trial 2 which started two years later and replicated Trial 1. We assessed the effectiveness of GonaConÔ to cause infertility by measuring GnRH antibody titres, by monitoring the oestrous cycle through the concentration of faecal progesterone and by recording the sows' reproductive output in the 4-6 years following treatment. We evaluated the potential side-effects by monitoring behaviour, bodyweight and haematological and biochemical variables.Key results. GnRH-antibody titres decreased with time but were still detectable in all females six years after vaccination with a single dose of GonaConÔ. In Trial 1 none of the treated females gave birth in the six years after vaccination. In Trial 2, progesterone indicated that two of the six treated females were cycling. One of the cycling treated females gave birth one year after vaccination; the other five, including the second cycling sow, did not reproduce in the four years following vaccination. We found no differences in bodyweight, haematology, biochemistry and behaviour and no obvious sign of injection site reaction.Conclusions. GonaConÔ can suppress reproduction in wild boar with no long-term effects on behaviour and physiology. Therefore, GonaConÔ can be regarded as an effective and safe contraceptive for this species.Implications. The lack of evidence of adverse effects and the longevity of effect of GonaConÔ suggest that this contraceptive could be now tested in field trials and in contexts where culling of overabundant populations of wild boar is unfeasible, illegal or unacceptable. These instances include urban areas, parks, and management of diseases where culling might cause social perturbation and result in increased disease transmission rates.

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“…This means that the vaccine will work in some species but not as well or at all in others. GonaCon Ò was developed primarily for application to white-tailed deer, 12,[87][88][89][90] but also works in wapiti, 91 swine, 92 and horses. 50 In the case of GonaCon Ò the longer lasting duration of antibodies has been accomplished by the addition of aromatic amino acids to the structure, which enhances immunogenicity but without interfering with binding to pituitary receptors.…”

Section: Duration Of Contraceptive Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contraceptive Vaccines for Wildlife: A Review

Kirkpatrick¹,

Lyda²,

Frank³

2011

American J Rep Immunol

115

105

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Citation Kirkpatrick JF, Lyda RO, Frank KM. Contraceptive vaccines for wildlife: a review. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 66: 40–50 Wildlife, free‐ranging and captive, poses and causes serious population problems not unlike those encountered with human overpopulation. Traditional lethal control programs, however, are not always legal, wise, safe, or publicly acceptable; thus, alternative approaches are necessary. Immunocontraception of free‐ranging wildlife has reached the management level, with success across a large variety of species. Thus far, the immunocontraceptive research and management applications emphasis have been centered on porcine zona pellucida and gonadotropin‐releasing hormone vaccines. Contraceptive success has been achieved in more than 85 different wildlife species, at the level of both the individual animal and the population. At the population management level with free‐ranging species, the primary focus has been on wild horses, urban deer, bison, and African elephants. The challenges in the development and application of vaccine‐based wildlife contraceptives are diverse and include differences in efficacy across species, safety of vaccines during pregnancy, the development of novel delivery systems for wild and wary free‐ranging animals, and the constraints of certain non‐contraceptive effects, such as effects on behavior. Beyond the constraints imposed by the public and a host of regulatory concerns, there exists a real limitation for funding of well‐designed programs that apply this type of fertility control.

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Field test of a single-injection gonadotrophin-releasing hormone immunocontraceptive vaccine in female white-tailed deer

Cited by 32 publications

References 42 publications

Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunization on Reproductive Function and Behavior in Captive Female Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)1

Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunization on Reproductive Function and Behavior in Captive Female Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)1

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

Contraceptive Vaccines for Wildlife: A Review

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