PGFM-detection for pregnancy testing in carnivores

Reference Number TO 99-00037

The Challenge
There are several ways for veterinarians to determine a pregnancy in mammals. Most of them are invasive like hormone analysis in blood plasma or ultrasound-examination and involve close handling of the respective female. This is sufficient and well established for many mammal species. However if the species to be tested is potentially dangerous or has to be narcotised for other reasons, alternative pregnancy tests are in need as anaesthesia is a high risk procedure especially for great cats but also for other carnivores.

The Technology
PGFM (PGF2alpha metabolite) is a biologically inactive metabolite of the prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2a). Pregnant carnivores excrete PGFM in their faeces and urine and the inventors developed a testing system to detect and measure PGFM from both fresh and old (2 days) stool samples. Results can be used not only to verify pregnancy in a relatively early stage (mid-term) compared to other tests but also can distinguish between real pregnancy and pseudo-pregnancy.

Commercial Opportunity
The new technology is offered for in-licensing or co-development for an “easy to handle test stick or kit”.

Potential customers are zoos, game reserves, safari parks, wildlife conservation projects as well as private breeders not only of game animals but also of domestic cats and dogs. ,

Developmental Status
The test has been set up in the inventor’s laboratory and is validated for felids (lynx, sand cat). Its applicability for other felid and carnivore species is currently tested. Right now the test is an easy to handle laboratory procedure which takes 4 hours maximum. Adaptation to test sticks is planned and preferably done in joint development.

Patent situation
A priority establishing European Patent application has been filed in July 2009.

Further Reading
www.izw-berlin.de/en/research/fg4/service-fg4.htm