EXAME REPRODUTIVO EM GATO-DO-MATO-PEQUENO (Leopardus tigrinus Schreber, 1775)

A better understanding of the reproductive physiology of Neotropical small felids is necessary to get a more consistent reproductive performance aiming to increase the number of individuals that reproduce in the captive population and to develop and use assisted reproduction techniques. Andrologic examinations (n=32) were performed in three series of captive small catamounts (Leopardus tigrinus, n=11), at Itaipu Binacional Wildlife Breeding Center, at Foz do Iguassu PR Brazil. Animals were kept in enriched enclosures and were fed with bovine meat, whole chicken, rats, supplemented with minerals and vitamins. The anesthetic protocol used was xilazine (0.9 mg/kg, IM) combined with tiletamine/zolazepan (6.7 mg/kg, IM). The electroejaculation protocol used was described by Howard (1986) and consisted in 8 series of 10 stimulus, with intensity varying from 2 to 5 volts. Urine contamination was detected in 10 semen samples (31.2%), being possible to discard these and make good use of the other ones. Values are depicted as mean ± SEM. The characteristics of the semen were: volume 0.13 ± 0.20 ml; motility 73.44 ± 3.71%; status 3.48 ± 0.11; pH 7.58 ± 0.07. Spermatic concentration was 436.41 ± 95.8 x 106 cells/ml, with 55.86 ± 3.34 % morphologically normal spermatozoids. Results demonstrated that the used protocol was efficient in all animals submitted to semen collection and that teratospermia is high in this species.O objetivo desta pesquisa foi obter melhor compreensão da fisiologia reprodutiva dos pequenos felídeos neotropicais, necessária para um desempenho reprodutivo mais consistente em cativeiro e aumentar o número de indivíduos que se reproduzem na população cativa. Foram realizadas três séries de exames reprodutivos (n=32) em 11 gatos-do-mato-pequeno (Leopardus tigrinus), mantidos em cativeiro no Criadouro de Animais Silvestres da Itaipu Binacional, em Foz do Iguaçu PR. Os animais estavam alojados em recintos ambientados e eram alimentados com carne bovina, frango, pintainhos, ratos e suplemento mineral/vitamínico. O protocolo anestésico utilizado foi a associação de cloridrato de xilazina e cloridrato de tiletamina/zolazepan nas doses médias de 0,95 mg/Kg e 6,7 mg/kg, respectivamente. Os animais foram submetidos à colheita de sêmen pelo método de eletroejaculação conforme protocolo descrito por HOWARD (1986) com 8 séries de 10 estímulos, variando a intensidade de 2 a 5 Volts. Houve contaminação por urina em 10 colheitas (31,2%), sendo possível desprezar as alíquotas contaminadas, com aproveitamento do restante da amostra. O volume médio obtido foi de 0,13 ± 0,20 ml, com motilidade média de 73,44 ± 3,71 % e vigor de 3,48 ± 0,11 . O pH médio foi 7,58 ± 0,07. A concentração espermática foi de 436,41 ± 95,8 x 106 espermatozóides/ml, sendo que a porcentagem média de espermatozóides morfologicamente normais foi de 55,86 ± 3,34 %. Os valores obtidos nesta amostragem são compatíveis com os descritos por outros autores, contribuindo assim, na formação de um banco de dados de características reprodutivas, para felídeos desta espécie mantidos em cativeiro

Establishment of an anesthetic protocol for semen collection by electroejaculation in six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus Linnaeus, 1758)

ABSTRACT The aim was to verify the effects of different anesthetic protocols used during electroejaculation (EEJ) in six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus). Four sexually matured animals were physically restrained and subjected to semen collection by the EEJ following three treatments: The control group consisted of no use of anesthesia; in the others, the anesthetic combinations xylazine/ketamine/propofol or butorphanol/ ketamine/propofol were administered. For each group, twelve procedures were conducted for EEJ. Semen was evaluated for volume, color, aspect, motility, sperm concentration, morphology, viability, and functional membrane integrity. The highest efficiency (100% ejaculates) was achieved when the control group was used; the xylazine/ketamine/propofol association provided only 11 ejaculates from a total of 12 attempts (91.6% efficiency), while only 4 ejaculates (33% efficiency) were obtained with butorphanol/ketamine/propofol (P<0.05). Both protocols provided rapid induction and relaxation enough to perform the EEJ. In the use of butorphanol/ketamine/propofol, the animals recovered at 16.5±1.5min, a time shorter than in the use of xylazine/ketamine/propofol protocol, 20.7±1.0min (P>0.05). The semen volume and sperm concentration obtained in the use of xylazine/ketamine/propofol association were significantly higher than those verified for butorphanol/ketamine/propofol protocol. In conclusion, the xylazine/ketamine/propofol association is indicated for anesthesia of six-banded armadillos submitted to EEJ