Measurement of Fecal Progesterone in Female Dugong (Dugong dugon)

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the possibility of measuring fecal progesterone (P4) of dugongs in captivity. Fecal samples were collected from a captive adult female dugong kept at Toba aquarium in November 2012 and February 2013, and fecal P4 of these samples was measured using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). To establish a measuring system, we compared the results of measurements applying different dilution rates of primary antibody and enzyme linked antigen, and decided the best experimental condition for accurate measurement. We then measured P4 concentrations of the dugong’s fecal samples. Significant difference in the P4 concentrations was not found among the samples collected in November and February. Thus it is suggested the dugong was not in estrous period when the samples were collected. We succeeded in extracting and measuring fecal P4 of the dugong, and for further study, we plan to apply this method to monitoring of estrous cycle of dugongs.