Successful live-birth in the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, using intrauterine artificial insemination (IUAI) and laparotomy
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Artificial insemination (Al) in marsupials will provide a vital management tool for endangered species to maximise animal numbers and genetically supplement inbred populations in the field and captivity. In this study, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) was used as a model to develop AI for potential application in various species of endangered macropods including the brush-tailed rock wallaby and long-nosed potoroo. The reproductive cycle of 24 females was synchronised by removing their pouch young (RPY), which resulted in reactivation of the diapausing embryo, birth 26.2±0.7 days later and an oestrus lasting approx 1 to 6 hours post partum. Females were isolated from males from the time of RPY. Semen collected by electroejaculation on the day of birth was used for artificial insemination into 4 different regions: (i) urogenital sinus via syringe (n=7) (ii) median & anterior lateral vaginae via catheter (n=7) (iii) uterus via a transcervical catheter during laparotomy (n=5) (iv) uterus directly (IUAI) via needle during laparotomy (n=5) Each female had their second pouch young removed to allow for any successful AI fertilisations to develop directly through to birth. One of the five females inseminated by direct IUAI gave birth (20% success and 4.2% success of all animals artificially inseminated). This is the first live-born macropodid offspring produced by artificial insemination.
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48th Australian Mammal Society Annual General Meeting
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1
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Warrnambool, VIC, Ausralia
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Deakin University
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Warrnambool, VIC, Ausralia
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