Immunocontraception in male feral swine treated with a recombinant gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine

Authors

Tyler A. Campbell, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Michelle R. Garcia, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Lowell A. Miller, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow
Martha A. Ramirez, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
David B. Long, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Jean-Baptiste Marchand, Imaxio SA, Lyon, France
Fergal Hill, Imaxio SA, Lyon, France

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

6-2010

Comments

Published in Journal of Swine Health and Production - May and June 2010.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if a recombinant gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine is a potential immunocontraceptive agent for juvenile male feral swine.

Results: As expected, a single dose of GonaCon vaccine reduced testes mass, serum testosterone, and percent normal tubules, and restricted sperm development at each stage. These reductions in reproductive development were associated with elevated GnRH antibodies. The single injection of rGnRH was not as effective in reducing these reproductive parameters; however, the two-dose injection of rGnRH was as effective as the single injection of GonaCon.