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Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Efficacy of ERL-4221 as an ovotoxin for feral pigs (Sus scrofa)

Dustin L. Sanders A , Fang Xie B , Richard E. Mauldin C , Jerome C. Hurley C , Lowell A. Miller C , Michelle R. Garcia B , Randy W. DeYoung A , David B. Long D and Tyler A. Campbell D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.

B Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.

C United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.

D United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.

E Corresponding author. Email: tyler.a.campbell@aphis.usda.gov

Wildlife Research 38(2) 168-172 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR10179
Submitted: 29 September 2010  Accepted: 21 March 2011   Published: 20 April 2011

Abstract

Context: The expansion of feral pig populations across the United States has increased the occurrence of damage and damage complaints. New techniques are needed to more effectively manage feral pig damage, including the development of fertility control agents.

Aims: We aimed to assess the ovotoxic properties of ERL-4221 as a candidate fertility control agent for feral pigs.

Methods: We conducted two palatability trials to determine ERL-4221 acceptance and one experimental trial with ERL-4221 at the captive wildlife facility of Texas A&M University-Kingsville during 2008. Our experimental trial had three treatments, a control containing no ERL-4221, baits containing 16.0 mg ERL-4221 kg–1 bodyweight for 10 days, and baits containing 16.0 mg ERL-4221 kg–1 bodyweight for 20 days.

Key results: Final body mass, total ovary mass, number of follicles and number of corpora lutea did not differ between treatments.

Conclusions: We did not find it efficacious to orally deliver ERL-4221 to feral pigs to reduce fertility. Oral delivery is the most practical, cost-effective means of delivering fertility control agents to feral pigs and development of additional fertility control strategies are needed.

Implications: Unless ovotoxic effects of ERL-4221 can be identified in feral pigs, along with a successful means of administration, other fertility control strategies may need to be explored, such as oocyte-secreted proteins that regulate follicular development.

Additional keywords: ERL-4221, fertility control, oocyte, ovary, toxicity.


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