Serum concentration of progesterone, pH of the vagina and body morphometry of pregnant deer (Cervus unicolor)in captivity

Abstract

The aim was to study pregnant cervus in captivity, to obtain body morphometric data, serum progesterone concentrations, and pH of the vagina. Females of cervus (Cervus unicolor), (n=8) between 2 and 3 years old were used in November during breeding season. After sedation, in one collection, the following was measured: body weight 54.50 +/- 18.70kg, body length 1.21 +/- 0.16m, height at withers 0.75 +/- 0.08m, thoracic perimeter 0.84 +/- 0.12m, and body mass index 97.32 +/- 10.50kg / m(2). After sedation, blood samples were collected to measure progesterone concentration by radioimmunoassay and the use of an indicator tape to obtain the pH of the vagina was performed eight times at four day intervals in the eight females, in a total of 64 samples for each exam. Data were analyzed, and significance was at 5%. There were no differences (P> 0.05) between measurements for serum progesterone concentrations and pH of the vagina. The correlations between body weight, progesterone, pH, and body mass index were not significant (P> 0.05). There was no significant oscillation of progesterone concentration and pH of the vagina in the pregnancy period studied.