Physiological Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunocontraception on White-Tailed Deer

Authors

Paul D. Curtis, Cornell UniversityFollow
Milo E. Richmond, Cornell University
Lowell A. Miller, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Fred W. Quimby, Rockefeller University

Date of this Version

2008

Citation

Published in Human-Wildlife Conflicts, Volume 2, Number 1, Pages 68–79, Spring 2008.

Comments

Published and copyright by Jack H. Berryman Institute. http://www.berrymaninstitute.org/journal/index.html

Abstract

Before immunocontraceptives can be considered safe to use on wildlife species, potential health risks should be assessed. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive has successfully reduced fertility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus); however, associated deer physiology has rarely been examined. We conducted gross necropsy examinations, histology, and blood chemistry comparisons on euthanized deer previously vaccinated with immunogenic GnRH (n = 18 females and n = 4 males), or left as untreated controls (n = 7 females and n = 6 males).